tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-273300412024-03-21T11:52:00.400-07:00Moon*Forest*BoneWisdom from our bodies, tribes, land, and universal experience to help those who feel adrift to learn and live their gifts.
Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-77948035090371659382024-03-05T10:34:00.000-08:002024-03-21T09:20:38.191-07:00War and Peace<p> </p><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="2-to-fight-tooth-and-nail" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">To fight tooth and nail</h3><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="3-to-bite-the-bullet" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">To bite the bullet</h3><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="4-in-the-trenches" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">In the trenches</h3><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="5-to-go-over-the-top" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">To go over the top</h3><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="6-at-loggerheads" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">At loggerheads</h3><div><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="2-to-fight-tooth-and-nail" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">To hit the target</h3><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="3-to-bite-the-bullet" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">A battle of nerves</h3><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="4-in-the-trenches" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">To cross swords</h3><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="5-to-go-over-the-top" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Have dodged a bullet</h3><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="6-at-loggerheads" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Don't shoot the messenger</h3><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="6-at-loggerheads" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">To drop a bombshell</h3><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="3-to-bite-the-bullet" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Great guns</h3><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="4-in-the-trenches" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Fight fire with fire</h3><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="5-to-go-over-the-top" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Gun shy</h3><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="6-at-loggerheads" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">She's a riot</h3><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="6-at-loggerheads" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Knight in shining armor</h3><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="3-to-bite-the-bullet" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">In your sights</h3><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="4-in-the-trenches" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Long shot</h3><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="6-at-loggerheads" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">A loose cannon</h3><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="6-at-loggerheads" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">On guard</h3><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="3-to-bite-the-bullet" style="background: rgb(255, 207, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Pull the trigger</h3><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: all-round-gothic, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 2rem; margin: 0.813rem 0rem 0.75rem;" type="h3"><span type="text">Offer an olive branch</span></h3><div><span type="text"><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: all-round-gothic, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 2rem; margin: 0.813rem 0rem 0.75rem;" type="h3"><span type="text">Hold your peace</span></h3><div><span type="text"><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: all-round-gothic, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 2rem; margin: 0.813rem 0rem 0.75rem;" type="h3"><span type="text">Make peace</span></h3><div><span type="text"><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: all-round-gothic, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 2rem; margin: 0.813rem 0rem 0.75rem;" type="h3"><span type="text">A meeting of minds</span></h3><div><span type="text"><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: all-round-gothic, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 2rem; margin: 0.813rem 0rem 0.75rem;" type="h3"><span type="text">At peace with the world</span></h3><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: all-round-gothic, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 2rem; margin: 0.813rem 0rem 0.75rem;" type="h3"><span type="text">Offering grace</span></h3><div><span type="text"><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: all-round-gothic, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 2rem; margin: 0.813rem 0rem 0.75rem;" type="h3"><span type="text">Peace and quiet</span></h3><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: all-round-gothic, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 2rem; margin: 0.813rem 0rem 0.75rem;" type="h3"><span type="text">Leave in peace</span></h3><div><span type="text"><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: all-round-gothic, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 2rem; margin: 0.813rem 0rem 0.75rem;" type="h3"><span type="text">Peace of mind</span></h3><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: all-round-gothic, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 2rem; margin: 0.813rem 0rem 0.75rem;" type="h3"><span type="text">Peace and quiet</span></h3><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: all-round-gothic, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 2rem; margin: 0.813rem 0rem 0.75rem;" type="h3"><span type="text">Peace</span></h3></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></div>Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-85087674778103557612023-12-03T14:06:00.000-08:002023-12-03T14:06:12.949-08:00<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I invite you to connect with elements, forces and presences that feel good to you. Those which you can in good conscience invite into sacred accompaniment with you for our time together. I’ll make some suggestions and leave the process open to what works for you. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6c9f827b-7fff-a698-5543-a9e663e763e0"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Let us start by becoming aware of this self we call me or “I”. Notice your breath, your heartbeat, the sensations of skin, guts, muscles. Notice the heat that is created by your presence in the world. Notice the thoughts arising in the mind, and allow those thoughts to pass in and out of awareness. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJU-E74VaFa0w7jNQ6s3NaavAwkMZAR7a7XuW8Lc-EBifndz09OUlWfMYkqdK9PT6cmeN2xUxuCXS-Kt5QJYYvohhksgfmj6Z1W4y4uJEjby30MXbii1U9xrQaDF4C8-7NMPmCYyihduCBvHHH8zjMHr2vQH8FQ39ktG5W20NLklfwngnpG3e/s3264/IMG_1719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJU-E74VaFa0w7jNQ6s3NaavAwkMZAR7a7XuW8Lc-EBifndz09OUlWfMYkqdK9PT6cmeN2xUxuCXS-Kt5QJYYvohhksgfmj6Z1W4y4uJEjby30MXbii1U9xrQaDF4C8-7NMPmCYyihduCBvHHH8zjMHr2vQH8FQ39ktG5W20NLklfwngnpG3e/s320/IMG_1719.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We are a network of community gathered here together through the magic of technology. This magical network comes into being for this hour and then disperses when we stop the electronic connection, but it does not ever cease to be even as it changes form. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In this moment, let us call in the elements, forces or presences to remind us that this is sacred connection and community.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Calling on the powers of earth, soil, mountain and seed. What is near you that represents this for you. Is there a park or landmark? Orient your awareness to that place or thing. Bring the power into your whole self, into your body.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Calling on the powers of air, thought, wind and flight. What is near you that represents this for you? Is there an airport, university, or landmark? Orient your awareness to that place or thing. Bring the power into your whole self, into your mind.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJHrMbyrEFXzhy3HTCCChyphenhyphenE7W0Mubho3rgdyTfQUEiIrFuTj4RiVxoTgqchKgt9io0qA_VZ-97NnAmxhEIAERgBSk19ttKmdR_8CUUM-d3nbteierk8ZJaQyiD2R4_lhsUedCVqeCxdK3kL7GFiHM9eSliGINFYQqw11v-99du38XttvWacng/s1398/Soaring-wide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="1398" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJHrMbyrEFXzhy3HTCCChyphenhyphenE7W0Mubho3rgdyTfQUEiIrFuTj4RiVxoTgqchKgt9io0qA_VZ-97NnAmxhEIAERgBSk19ttKmdR_8CUUM-d3nbteierk8ZJaQyiD2R4_lhsUedCVqeCxdK3kL7GFiHM9eSliGINFYQqw11v-99du38XttvWacng/s320/Soaring-wide.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p>Calling on the powers of fire, spirit, creativity, and fierceness. What is near you that represents this for you? Is there a place of justice, sunrise, or music? Orient your awareness to that place or thing. Bring the power into your whole self, into your nervous system or soul.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Calling on the powers of water, connection, and emotion. What is near you that represents this for you? Is there a family home-base, a hospital, a lake or ocean? Orient your awareness to that place or thing. Bring the power into your whole self, into your heart.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibKznRdsXYcMuNb6DsDna0Jtt-_6UeTt0rWaOeJ28fYTejUFWKjZGyPyRms9oBNxbTJvTwb8cGVWYfJsVKxP26qV94PJ9KtkFt2jndRS26mC4isBtwlaDjsCKy8lYE9iftMyp7DHWkR4caQoIREMp5wJNBB2JogWC0QfQQkaOHge8c9JZxUHV/s476/wideriver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="127" data-original-width="476" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibKznRdsXYcMuNb6DsDna0Jtt-_6UeTt0rWaOeJ28fYTejUFWKjZGyPyRms9oBNxbTJvTwb8cGVWYfJsVKxP26qV94PJ9KtkFt2jndRS26mC4isBtwlaDjsCKy8lYE9iftMyp7DHWkR4caQoIREMp5wJNBB2JogWC0QfQQkaOHge8c9JZxUHV/s320/wideriver.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Calling on the power of the center, the web, the diverse complexity and the all. What is near you that represents this for you? Is it the stars or the core of the earth or your own spine?Orient your awareness to that place or thing. Bring the power into your whole self.</span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We are between the worlds beyond the bounds of space and time where birth and death night and day joy and sorrow meet as one.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Look around this place where you are and notice 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, and one thing you can smell and/or taste. Take another deep breath. Welcome back!</span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><br />Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-59034065710029067342023-07-26T14:21:00.002-07:002023-07-26T14:21:57.198-07:00 Cherry Hill Seminary SpiDir Certification Starting Spring '24<div class="separator"><h2 style="text-align: center;">Spiritual Direction Certification Program</h2><p font-family:="" georgia="" imes="" new="" quot="" roman="" serif="" style="background-color: transparent; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;" times=""><img alt="" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" height="336" role="presentation" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEigfqK5jN1kz_8MFZ2AuyEw_66h962em5BHKaWO05RyQwIRwqh3Be2lVvFLqf-QMEr95Ph1tdBkJ0Q87wipV6xWcXVE0nzp5At5BTFj5_qwDybIuquaEuaEpii_63xKEjDiYQjEbfxc5AhortIkb4Lofz1qWkf_LWT8uM5b9HvBbEeYkcqrsUU1LZeYzo7S0ZErewdde0bJ_KFHjkcfRoaQ_Ae1wOWSV8oCSp7hJiiXiSU=w400-h336" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; max-height: 100%; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; text-align: center; width: 150px;" tabindex="0" width="400" /><br /></p></div><h4 style="background-color: transparent; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Do people seek you out for spiritual companionship and support? Or are you already a spiritual care provider, looking to expand what you offer? </span></h4><p>Honor your calling by becoming credentialed in spiritual direction work at Cherry Hill Seminary. </p><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><p>2-year program </p></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><p>affordable</p></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><p>cohort based virtual community </p></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><p>grounded in earth-relating traditions </p></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><p>diverse teachers bring Pagan, Indigenous, Catholic, Sufi, Animist, neuro-diverse, gender-fabulous, and more wisdom</p></li></ul><p>Applications accepted on a rolling basis until a cohort is formed: Expected start is March 2024.</p><p>You are whole, holy, and good. Deepen and grow as a human, expand and clarify your faith formation, and level up as a spiritual care provider.</p><p>Check in directly with Amy by finding time at: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://amybeltaine.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D5f84800e28499ee32c85c9b3a%26id%3D4cb4869a13%26e%3Db39abda7f9&source=gmail&ust=1689718910341000&usg=AOvVaw3BI66eDaLpVLn2Tc5ZQ8Z2" href="https://amybeltaine.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5f84800e28499ee32c85c9b3a&id=4cb4869a13&e=b39abda7f9" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.amybeltaine.info/<wbr></wbr>Home/schedule</a></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color: #476584; border-radius: 0px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;" valign="top"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://amybeltaine.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D5f84800e28499ee32c85c9b3a%26id%3Dfa09e32f6a%26e%3Db39abda7f9&source=gmail&ust=1689718910341000&usg=AOvVaw0-1CkaDfKmXJH2CfSoaA3O" href="https://amybeltaine.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5f84800e28499ee32c85c9b3a&id=fa09e32f6a&e=b39abda7f9" style="border-radius: 0px; border: 2px solid rgb(71, 101, 132); color: white; direction: ltr; display: block; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; min-width: 30px; padding: 16px 28px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">SpiDir Program: Click Here</a></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table>Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-58375934073671845632023-07-10T14:10:00.006-07:002023-07-26T14:31:14.012-07:00Spiritual Direction Supervision: Starting September<span id="docs-internal-guid-fefaa77f-7fff-6eb5-4503-97ea286fad8d"><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; color: #050505; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="background-color: #eac5f8; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_-6467402978206473773mceBlockContainer" style="background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 20px 24px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-top: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px; min-width: 100%; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 12px 0px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="m_-6467402978206473773section_ac98f82b32e63f06f55497ed705214f9" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; margin: 0px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_-6467402978206473773mceColumn" colspan="12" style="margin: 0px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top" width="100%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; margin: 0px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_-6467402978206473773mceColumn" colspan="12" style="margin: 0px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top" width="100%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="24" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%;"><colgroup><col span="1" width="8.333333333333332%"></col><col span="1" width="8.333333333333332%"></col><col span="1" width="8.333333333333332%"></col><col span="1" width="8.333333333333332%"></col><col span="1" width="8.333333333333332%"></col><col span="1" width="8.333333333333332%"></col><col span="1" width="8.333333333333332%"></col><col span="1" width="8.333333333333332%"></col><col span="1" width="8.333333333333332%"></col><col span="1" width="8.333333333333332%"></col><col span="1" width="8.333333333333332%"></col><col span="1" width="8.333333333333332%"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td class="m_-6467402978206473773mceColumn" colspan="6" style="margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top" width="50%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="m_-6467402978206473773mceBlockContainer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 12px 6px 12px 16px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><img alt="" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" height="auto" role="presentation" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhhXTrF7WGBVRg-YMpj0eCTMR_VYqcvVx14bEvm0BA_VRdT7gGzAmyejUJQ-IQDx28cpgnyX6pF8jqDMJL5OItBKv9uUhE1SxoKrfDm856mt01lD-eNkcl1aTdPVeZe7UdPKNdv25MYzWlp44cbe7CbjuKfJYSw6kWq_HNFg7ag2kD-nJmw8zyalEjmTFZ8QENtOTGtv1-viAJoiNapHPzgshss3aUi2FEZ7avnXw8Gh_0=s0-d-e1-ft&dpr=2" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; max-height: 100%; max-width: 100%; outline: none; width: 191px;" tabindex="0" width="191" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td class="m_-6467402978206473773mceColumn" colspan="6" style="margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top" width="50%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_-6467402978206473773mceBlockContainer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 12px 16px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><div class="m_-6467402978206473773mceText" id="m_-6467402978206473773dataBlockId-124" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; white-space-collapse: preserve; width: 293.062px;"><h1 style="direction: ltr; font-size: 31px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Supervision for Spiritual Companions</span></h1><p style="direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: #222222;">Facilitated group supervision f</span>or practicing Spiritual Directors who yearn for affirmation and enrichment
in a context of diverse spiritualities.</p></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td class="m_-6467402978206473773mceBlockContainer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 12px 24px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><div class="m_-6467402978206473773mceText" id="m_-6467402978206473773dataBlockId-105" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; white-space-collapse: preserve; width: 602px;"><p style="direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><br /></p><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><p style="direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Global Majority and LGBTQIA+ Affirming</p></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><p style="direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Semi-monthly option</p></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><p style="direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Lucy Abbot Tucker, Urban Spirituality, and Earth-based trained</p></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><p style="direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">12 years experience </p></li></ul><p style="direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Starting September!</p></div></td></tr><tr><td align="center" class="m_-6467402978206473773mceBlockContainer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 12px 24px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr class="m_-6467402978206473773mceStandardButton"><td style="background-color: #476584; border-radius: 0px; margin: 0px; text-align: center; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://amybeltaine.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D5f84800e28499ee32c85c9b3a%26id%3Db05a1c998f%26e%3D67ec1a9db6&source=gmail&ust=1689450682278000&usg=AOvVaw292KVlLRNCqwwyPAyQx-lV" href="https://amybeltaine.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5f84800e28499ee32c85c9b3a&id=b05a1c998f&e=67ec1a9db6" style="border-radius: 0px; border: 2px solid rgb(71, 101, 132); color: white; direction: ltr; display: block; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; min-width: 30px; padding: 16px 28px; text-decoration-line: none; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">Supervision Info: Click Here</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span>Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-44731795693113660102023-07-10T14:08:00.005-07:002023-07-26T14:25:22.844-07:00U,U, & UU History<p> </p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="background-color: #eac5f8; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 8px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="m_-6467402978206473773section_bdf1f423e478e4657251a8f821142e3d" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; margin: 0px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_-6467402978206473773mceColumn" colspan="12" style="margin: 0px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top" width="100%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="72" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_-6467402978206473773mceColumn" colspan="6" style="margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;" valign="center" width="50%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_-6467402978206473773mceBlockContainer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 10px 6px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><div class="m_-6467402978206473773mceText" id="m_-6467402978206473773dataBlockId-80" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; white-space-collapse: preserve; width: 304.969px;"><h1 style="direction: ltr; font-size: 31px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 28px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">U, U, & UU History</span></span></h1><p style="direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; word-break: break-word;">Cherry Hill Seminary’s U, U, and UU History class: open for Pre-registration</p></div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-top: 20px solid transparent; margin: 0px; min-width: 100%; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td class="m_-6467402978206473773mceColumn" colspan="6" style="margin: 0px 0px 72px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;" valign="center" width="50%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" class="m_-6467402978206473773mceBlockContainer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 10px 6px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><img alt="" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" height="auto" role="presentation" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhbOC-yXHfAjDKB5n4ogsWUahJ2RErYszU8tU6f4Cq8Y8aTnI8q5dV-koHkIHDTogciU6okGGged6W5ssL0YxEKktPKz4h6gplaWJYjAugyhba-7Di7hA_V1oc3YeFSBvpKOeNvHA1snxvsainDudQRzyk01Mg5PKj-z8z7E7jJIEEmqDZ0di3raKwOcZ6mIYDX7VyZRTbGNeBR0YrKAex8SB-gfJbnUNu_DCBo_tWAw8Y=s0-d-e1-ft&dpr=2" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; max-height: 100%; max-width: 100%; outline: none; width: 150px;" tabindex="0" width="150" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td class="m_-6467402978206473773mceBlockContainer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 12px 24px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><div class="m_-6467402978206473773mceText" id="m_-6467402978206473773dataBlockId-110" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; white-space-collapse: preserve; width: 602px;"><p style="direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Discover the Broad Scope of Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist history and key stories from that history. </p><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><p style="direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Fall session</p></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><p style="direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Semi-intensive</p></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><p style="direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">All online</p></li></ul><p style="direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Designed to correlate with the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Ministerial Fellowship competencies 6 and 7. Includes 8 required hours for buddy/small group work outside of class.</p><p style="direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">7 course meetings, over 4-7 weeks, will be held on Tuesday/Wednesday evenings, 4-6:00 PM ET starting mid-September. Specific dates TBD with students and instructor, Rev. Amy Beltaine.</p><p style="direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Join us! (And pass the word!)</p><p style="direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><a href="Mailto:abeltaine@uuma.org" target="_blank">Email </a>to pre-register or review the syllabus.</p></div></td></tr><tr><td align="center" class="m_-6467402978206473773mceBlockContainer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 12px 24px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr class="m_-6467402978206473773mceStandardButton"><td style="background-color: #476584; border-radius: 0px; margin: 0px; text-align: center; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 2px solid rgb(71, 101, 132); display: block; letter-spacing: 0px; min-width: 30px; padding: 16px 28px;"><a href="https://cherryhillseminary.org/for-students/summer-2022-courses/t5998-special-topics-uu-history/">U, U, & UU History: Click Here</a></span></span></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-47120056585816227092021-10-21T14:14:00.000-07:002021-10-21T14:14:04.111-07:00Are You A Good Witch?"You claim an alignment of neutral good. Yet you went against your nature!"<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlny3EE9CD-iyaJ39JAvAa2gQULRC4DnJ02nLFv46gEYtN998vX34MbQYBy6p-eXwxIHrNpRg4Xl2XLkikLAHp8MukOM7hnBzy1szjk_JkjWybCqLdNfWRvolGSRdjo9UcE2yr/s664/Stirge_-_Lars_Grant-West.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlny3EE9CD-iyaJ39JAvAa2gQULRC4DnJ02nLFv46gEYtN998vX34MbQYBy6p-eXwxIHrNpRg4Xl2XLkikLAHp8MukOM7hnBzy1szjk_JkjWybCqLdNfWRvolGSRdjo9UcE2yr/s320/Stirge_-_Lars_Grant-West.jpg" width="308" /></a><br /><span style="text-align: left;">Stirge </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); color: #3a3a3a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; white-space: nowrap;">by </span><a href="https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/User:Ir%27revrykal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;" target="_blank">Ir'revrykal</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); color: #3a3a3a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; white-space: nowrap;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/" style="text-align: left;">CC3.0</a></div><div><br /><div>When memories insist on replaying, it is usually because there is a message there. The tape on eternal repeat in my mind is of a Dungeons and Dragons encounter many years ago.</div><div><br />Gnome illusionist, Orma Garee (that's me) and her intrepid companions are exploring a ruined Abbey. Gingerly carrying her torch across the rubble-filled room, Orma opens a door into what must once have been the sanctuary. Blinking in the sunlight streaming through the broken roof covered with vines, she notices a small group of people huddled together staring upward. Suddenly they start screaming as ugly bloated birds, giant mosquitoes really, come arrowing toward them. Stirges! Shudder! Orma slams the door closed. Time stops. Orma's goddess shimmers into being. The awesome <a href="https://www.worldanvil.com/w/abholos-sai/a/amberra-person" target="_blank">Amberra</a>. The angry goddess slams her staff into the ground and says, "Orma! You serve a deity of compassion. You claim an alignment of neutral good. Yet you went against your nature and your deity when you closed the door on those suffering people! You have lost my favor. I will not answer any calls for help, nor will you be able to channel divinity for your spells, until I know you have repented! DO BETTER!" and Kaboom! She disappears. End of memory.</div><div><br />
Wouldn't it be helpful for us all if our deity appeared before us instantly the moment we broke covenant with them. Wouldn't it be nice to get a clear and direct memo when we broke faith, missed the mark, or strayed from "the path." There is something so appealing about that clarity! Unlike in the D&D world, in the real world I don't get to have one-on-one chats with my deity. My deity speaks to me, if you can call it that, through the wind in the trees, the events in my life, and the still small voice whispering within.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXOhCniV3AEJSJanifx1FMqDnP-dQNNbZn518pspkc_ThGcYoz83-GjTlnEpPbuK8k1F7zfcod4cCEb_lC7lkkJOzZ1-sVI7OO9Z5mKXTgJ4XhQgNZGPlnT2-hl9AewZ7E-KF/s640/2015-05-31_1433084054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXOhCniV3AEJSJanifx1FMqDnP-dQNNbZn518pspkc_ThGcYoz83-GjTlnEpPbuK8k1F7zfcod4cCEb_lC7lkkJOzZ1-sVI7OO9Z5mKXTgJ4XhQgNZGPlnT2-hl9AewZ7E-KF/s320/2015-05-31_1433084054.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Photo used with permission by @OregonGirlRebecca</div><br /><div><br />
I spent some years jealous that other people had a straightforward language and image for a socially accepted God. As a Spiritual Director I have colleagues from many spiritual paths and many of them have personal conversations with the divine-within that they refer to as Jesus or God. That's where they go for insight when they have moral questions. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now, I have made peace with the fact that my higher good speaks to me through less easily described means.</div><div><br />
So what is the message of this persistent memory? I suspect that I know what my deity or higher power or greatest good or whatever I hold holy is asking of me. I must not shut the door on people who are in danger. But when I do, I have an opportunity to do better. We all have the opportunity to repent, to forgive ourselves and each other and to begin again. In the real, we are facing blood-sucking dangers: real dangers to real people.</div><div><br />
If you did not vote in the last election: forgive yourself, and begin again. If you did not realize how pervasive racism was in our culture until you saw it unleashed and naked on TV: forgive yourself and begin again. If you are inclined to stopper your ears because it is hard to hear the pain and anger of those who who are experiencing a heightened sense of danger. Forgive yourself and begin again. If your heart has broken after learning about people who have been set on fire, beaten up, been attacked, or had their places of worship attacked... but you didn't reach out in any way: forgive yourself and begin again.</div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.recovery.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/iStock-695349916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="322" src="https://www.recovery.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/iStock-695349916.jpg" width="483" /></a><br /><span style="text-align: left;">Image Source: iStock</span></div></span></div><div><br />
I can hear the voice of my D&D deity in my mind. "Do better!" This is how the sacred speaks to me - poetry, imagery, story, and memory. </div><div><br /></div><div>Message received.</div><div><br />
In that D&D game I called for my companions to come help me. I opened the door again. Together, we defended the frightened people from the bloodsucking stirge. I was forgiven, and I began again. Let's all attend to the messages of our deities, and then work together to protect those who need to be protected. Let us fight off the death-dealing, blood-sucking stirges of our reality.<br /></div></div>Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-90471897183696228452018-11-25T18:51:00.001-08:002018-11-26T23:15:45.606-08:00I See Dead PeopleWe decided to cram all 15 family and extended family members into the family time-share at the beach this year. It was crowded, but full of good humor and friendly participation. Each person contributed something, what they could. Vegan dishes were available for one brother-in-law. Smoked oysters, a favorite contribution from Thanksgivings past were provided by another. One 15-year-old brought a diorama of his Great Grandfather. A Dungeons and Dragons game was offered after dinner... we made room for everyone to be with us.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family on the Beach</td></tr>
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<h3>
Everyone </h3>
Great Grandpa Harry had a place of honor with the diorama, and the presentation that came with it. Grandma Laura was very present, since we brought an oil painting by her, depicting the scene outside the beach house from 1984, and hung it up, along with sharing of memories. The blessing before the meal included memories of my sister's father-in-law. The smoked oysters reminded my spouse and his brother of their mom and her love of seafood. Of course, my Mom was present: this beach house holds many childhood memories for my sister and me. It is the only residence still in the family, almost 50 years later. Everywhere I turn, I see dead people.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbP8c8iAXuloKbORq3Fk7l0bMORDi7bqJhaiAHnjwnnjqrHTUXUNaJMscKfk9Sz5ve1SLFa7yQQkJNoI54I0v8xKUSMYZg5qkxYvi78FXIkIpgkTY11hOABhyphenhyphenyl3ZK9elVtVXk/s1600/IMG_7150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbP8c8iAXuloKbORq3Fk7l0bMORDi7bqJhaiAHnjwnnjqrHTUXUNaJMscKfk9Sz5ve1SLFa7yQQkJNoI54I0v8xKUSMYZg5qkxYvi78FXIkIpgkTY11hOABhyphenhyphenyl3ZK9elVtVXk/s320/IMG_7150.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<h3>
An Unbroken Line</h3>
I can see the people and their stories, stretching back to the 19th Century, and further. A curious thing happens when I pay attention to that vision. I also see the heritage stretching into the 21st century. My son paints, just as my grandmother did. His son looks forward to fishing just as my sister's father-in-law did. I imagine my niece's daughter (some day, I'm not rushing her!) loving to sing, or play an instrument, like great Grandpa Harry or my Mom. They are not related by blood or even direct lineage, but they are related to one another through love, memory, and hopes for the future.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"untitled" by Corey Post</td></tr>
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<h3>
Invitation</h3>
Then I wonder, am I the living embodiment of love and hope from my forebears? Will I be a memory that offers joy or inspiration or at the least, connection, for those who come after me? That could be a big responsibility to carry. In fact, learning every day how to be a better person is hard work! But right now, I'm finding it comforting. My life is not insignificant and there is an invitation always waiting, from the divine, to become the fulfillment of the best hopes and the embodiment of treasured memory. I'm saying "yes" to this invitation, today, and every day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIIkFBw6gVPut5TxESrn0N6-za_3cT4cKheIIxeXWjs97vpVzrKCA0TnujIS4W1PBil62oI3ba8NOhcnNX3W229ZEImiPLJ7J_ikejuUfjBN9O8POkG8-WVCYv4jam8Be6BLg/s1600/IMG_6988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIIkFBw6gVPut5TxESrn0N6-za_3cT4cKheIIxeXWjs97vpVzrKCA0TnujIS4W1PBil62oI3ba8NOhcnNX3W229ZEImiPLJ7J_ikejuUfjBN9O8POkG8-WVCYv4jam8Be6BLg/s320/IMG_6988.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Fairy" painting by Corey Post in my home office</td></tr>
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<h3>
Bone Deep</h3>
Our people are a part of us, like our bones and our blood. Our people who are no longer with us in body are with us in the ways they have changed the world, and how their memories live in us. I see dead people when I look in the mirror or look at the work that I do. Right now, that's a good thing.<br />
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Reverend Amy invites you to explore how you say yes. Stop worrying about what you are supposed to do and start doing it! <a href="https://fdyczb-free.10to8.com/" target="_blank">Click Here.</a></div>
Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-88102579354877580242018-10-27T11:56:00.000-07:002018-10-27T11:56:22.904-07:00Your Gift<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve been talking with folks about how it often feels like our gifts are pointless. I question my calling. I struggle with the demons of self-doubt, fear, imposter-syndrome, and distraction. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I tell myself that I did more good when I was an activist. I affected more people, created more good, even when I worked in higher education. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpCnlnvjy_8MEA2JSVNlTTV3JX14Vh-o8JZgAB3DNfqSh1gODFWn-qmARHKon7UZAcqFSi39-UKmzjbIUXW7hEOFpzYhj_IEKUBDDUmIpMij-p9qB1C6BB53fdlxZm-UyPEQ7/s1600/gift-box-gold-ribbon-1478460660pC4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="615" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpCnlnvjy_8MEA2JSVNlTTV3JX14Vh-o8JZgAB3DNfqSh1gODFWn-qmARHKon7UZAcqFSi39-UKmzjbIUXW7hEOFpzYhj_IEKUBDDUmIpMij-p9qB1C6BB53fdlxZm-UyPEQ7/s320/gift-box-gold-ribbon-1478460660pC4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Struggle</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Part of the struggle is with the myth that Spiritual work should be unpaid and an unpaid profession isn't a "real" profession. No, money is not a valid measure of value. How much you are paid is not a reflection of what your work is worth any more than how much you have is a reflection of what you are worth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I wrestle also with feeling responsible for doing something about the political, human rights, and survival crisis that is present all around me. Spiritual work and personal transformation work feels so indulgent when the world is burning. I feel urgency to get out there and put out the fire, to tend the burned, to warn people and recruit people for the bucket brigade... </span><br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We Need ALL our Gifts</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And yet. I can’t do all the things. I can't even carry ALL the buckets of water. Maybe it is okay that my role is to feed the souls of the people on the bucket brigade. </span><br />
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<ul>
<li>Your poetry can be (and already is) a nourishment for the laborer in the work for justice. </li>
<li>Your testimony is transformative for the reluctant. </li>
<li>Your hospice work is making a difference one life, one family, one community at a time. </li>
<li>Your teaching is transforming young people into leaders of tomorrow. </li>
<li>Your book is going to have ripple effects.</li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What you do is your gift and you kinda have to give it... </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kumquat by <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kumquat_Photograph.jpg" target="_blank">Ninjiangstar</a> CC3.0</td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Living Like a Tree</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think of people as trees: We all have roots that need to take up nourishment and branches that bear fruit. Your gift, your kumquats, are a thirsty someone else’s water. I know this because I’ve seen and experienced it. That doesn't make it easy to produce your precious kumquat gift... but it does make it necessary.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">-</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Amy offers spiritual mentoring to dispirited givers: Helping you find your flow, your gifts, and your nourishment. <a href="https://fdyczb-free.10to8.com/" target="_blank">Click here to book.</a></span>Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-59318259113580762662018-10-07T05:00:00.000-07:002018-10-07T16:37:45.230-07:00Losing the battle, Reflections on Monday's Holiday<h3>
Fighting the Capitalist, Colonialist, Racist, Hetero-patriarchy</h3>
Starting in 1550, the Mapuche of South America began their fight against a colonizing, hetero-partiarchal, capitalist invader. We in North America, and other countries around the world, are resisting fascism that is home-grown, right now. The process of placing a right wing puppet onto the supreme court of the USA can be seen as yet another move toward fascism by the right wing, and a kind of disfigurement, or maiming of our democracy.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8-kzUGW-RNvyE8jJml31NfX5u2GRfGC1MaVTKDNkW8qbN5aoZSD155DqzNeWtSd8Ra2NA-HVEIbhKWEqBlirMl5hGMQvlz66F-isngj2gviIhzoYVbR0mVD4kUYpwqo3b0c6/s1600/1200px-Contemplation_ofJustice_by_James_Earle_Fraser%252C_US_Supreme_Court.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8-kzUGW-RNvyE8jJml31NfX5u2GRfGC1MaVTKDNkW8qbN5aoZSD155DqzNeWtSd8Ra2NA-HVEIbhKWEqBlirMl5hGMQvlz66F-isngj2gviIhzoYVbR0mVD4kUYpwqo3b0c6/s320/1200px-Contemplation_ofJustice_by_James_Earle_Fraser%252C_US_Supreme_Court.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Contemplation of Justice" by James Earle Fraser, US Supreme Court, Washington, DC, USA (Public Domain)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
On Monday, the calendar tells me, my country should be celebrating a man who furthered empire. He was instrumental in the genocide of the Taino and the Arawak of modern day Puerto Rico. He brought Spanish attention to the Americas which eventually led to the colonization and destruction of the empires and nations from Louisiana through Argentina and Chile... And English and French attention to the Americas which brought destruction to the empires and nations of North America.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
I'm Not Dead Yet!</h3>
Not all nations were defeated easily, and not all nations were ever truly defeated. For instance, the Mapuche of Chile/Argentina. One warrior, early in the conflict with the conquistadors, is famous for his bad-assery. <a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/72293/galvarino-mapuche-warrior-knives-hands">Galvarino</a>, as he is known in story and history, was captured in one of the early battles. The Spanish, with horses, guns, armor and crossbows, had the advantage over the Mapuche with their strong bodies, courage and spears. The captured Mapuche were "sentenced" to have their noses and one hand cut off. Galvarino ended up with both his hands cut off. Then the Mapuche were sent back to show their people what danger they were in.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FF0UqIWP7gdu-Bjn3sKA07_XWjSUNmIXaeidXt3zejz7eWJ0USa5DOG6A8tuIJyN6SaBoYfXiv8idn-PAyHYrD6_-e_I1_Ol0ha3tN5W88cMNbJjt9CO8Sat6C_egcHB1n-O/s1600/Galvarino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="270" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FF0UqIWP7gdu-Bjn3sKA07_XWjSUNmIXaeidXt3zejz7eWJ0USa5DOG6A8tuIJyN6SaBoYfXiv8idn-PAyHYrD6_-e_I1_Ol0ha3tN5W88cMNbJjt9CO8Sat6C_egcHB1n-O/s320/Galvarino.jpg" width="157" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mapuche Warrior: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/By%20La%20Araucana%C2%A0:%20poema%20/%20de%20D.%20Alonso%20de%20Ercilla%20y%20Z%C3%BA%C3%B1iga.%20Ed.%20ilustrada.%20Madrid%C2%A0:%20Impr.%20y%20Libr.%20de%20J.%20Gaspar%20Editor,%20168%20p.%20-%20http://www.memoriachilena.cl/temas/documento_detalle.asp?id=MC0011389,%20Public%20Domain,%20https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8950103" target="_blank">Glavarino</a>, illustration from "La Araucana" (Public Domain)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<br />
Galvarino remained defiant and was put in charge of a force of warriors to carry the battle back to the Spanish. In a particularly bad-ass move, he strapped knives to his stumps so that he could still fight. His force lost that battle in 1557, but the Mapuche remained independent (not without additional conflicts when they had to defend their territory and independence) until 1883. They continue to fight for the protection of their forests and rights for their people.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Finding a Reason to Keep On</h3>
My friend and colleague Theresa pointed me to the story of Galvarino when we were discussing how to find hope in the face of political and social shifts toward fascism. How to keep building the world of compassion, dignity, and justice that we dream of despite the confirmation of an opponent to that dream to the US Supreme Court.<br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RhMVjKPN3C7yYII44jzMcDTExDCfINThMlTOXXHjapoEprgbdgplnrrltlyTpRp4uWPxKV5wDJ5GnvNac9qwk5T81R_WeJRuBPdkk89W2_08MHti0EAGW805K0imrDQYjCqJ/s1600/7009896651_5a0744a38b_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="640" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RhMVjKPN3C7yYII44jzMcDTExDCfINThMlTOXXHjapoEprgbdgplnrrltlyTpRp4uWPxKV5wDJ5GnvNac9qwk5T81R_WeJRuBPdkk89W2_08MHti0EAGW805K0imrDQYjCqJ/s320/7009896651_5a0744a38b_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "arc of justice" quote on the southern granite wall of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C.<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/timevanson/7009896651" target="_blank"> Photo by Tim Evanson</a> (CC 2.0)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
The story of Galvarino tells me that you can still fight even when it feels like your hands have been removed. The story of Galvarino reminds me that even when you are losing, sometimes you are providing the inspiration for others to continue the fight. The story of Galvarino reminds me that though I'm afraid for myself and my loved ones, we are not in the extreme circumstances others have faced. They faced oppression, destruction, and pain with strength, solidarity, and courage.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Finding Your Own Inspiration</h3>
Last week I wrote about calling on the power of the Furies to fuel our work. This week I'm calling on the spirit of the ancestors who fought and the ancestors who lost. Galvarino is not my direct ancestor and may not be yours, but his story is still a reminder that the fight for the worth and dignity of the oppressed is worth giving your money, time, energy, and love.<br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSNGjwoIcApSelEzBFTWp26P4Da5s0Qym7iVp0h-JrGxLXRbZjgpnBQ3u2VqgbNaaWJuPgZzFj5wPGMuNiHGFV8CQl1VuW1XGm5rMqe4WVmdWpDw3OriHtUhZgH9PMKVrEMFw/s1600/800px-Bratislava_PKO_Janosik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSNGjwoIcApSelEzBFTWp26P4Da5s0Qym7iVp0h-JrGxLXRbZjgpnBQ3u2VqgbNaaWJuPgZzFj5wPGMuNiHGFV8CQl1VuW1XGm5rMqe4WVmdWpDw3OriHtUhZgH9PMKVrEMFw/s320/800px-Bratislava_PKO_Janosik.jpg" width="232" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juraj_J%C3%A1no%C5%A1%C3%ADk" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Juraj Jánošík">Juraj Jánošík</a>,</span> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/By%20Janko%20Alexy%20(painters)%20-%20cc-by-3.0Peter%20Zeliz%C5%88%C3%A1k%20(photo%20-%20Own%20work,%20Public%20Domain,%20https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6621048" target="_blank">A Slovak "Robin Hood"</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
Who are YOUR ancestors who fought? Who will be the ancestors our descendants look up to in the coming years? Will you make the list of Honored Ancestor? Will you be on the list of those who worked to make the world a better place for our great-grandchildren?<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Indigenous People's Day</h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A Poem by <a href="https://charlestonkahu.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Rev. Jeremy Rutledge</a></span><br />
<br />
I am not<br />
Hawai'ian<br />
but I was<br />
born in<br />
the islands.<br />
<br />
I am not<br />
Kiowa<br />
but I was<br />
raised on<br />
the plains.<br />
<br />
I am not<br />
Sewee<br />
but I am<br />
living near<br />
the salt marsh.<br />
<br />
And I am not<br />
an admirer<br />
of Columbus<br />
that lucky<br />
sailor.<br />
<br />
He found<br />
what had<br />
not been lost<br />
and named<br />
what was<br />
already known<br />
which doesn’t<br />
seem a feat<br />
if you ask me.<br />
<br />
But don’t<br />
ask me<br />
ask any<br />
Sewee<br />
Kiowa<br />
or Hawai'ian<br />
this Indigenous<br />
Peoples’ Day<br />
how it feels<br />
to be from<br />
a place<br />
that pauses<br />
once a year<br />
to remember<br />
and commences<br />
every other day<br />
to forget.<br />
x<br />
<br />
<h3>
Let us persist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">We are mad. We are full of rage for the insult to women and democracy. Let us use that rage as FUEL for our actions. Let us get out the vote, hold our politicians accountable, change things at the local level, prepare for the worst, and persist, persist, persist!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFx4MjhSKReN4iwWnvNzV4lU87UzsqFxfLLzAI-19EV-MmmfYOTssMKq4NV5eAym_MzjLV2gIMmyg2tkiSls7ukWpXdSt9cxVnjPuapZkQHEvjZC7e4w3NLnT530ai-J3vSHvX/s1600/1200px-Dr._E._Faye_Williams%252C_National_President-CEO_of_the_National_Congress_of_Black_Women%252C_speaking_outside_Mitch_McConnell%2527s_house_on_Capitol_Hill_%252832793689145%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFx4MjhSKReN4iwWnvNzV4lU87UzsqFxfLLzAI-19EV-MmmfYOTssMKq4NV5eAym_MzjLV2gIMmyg2tkiSls7ukWpXdSt9cxVnjPuapZkQHEvjZC7e4w3NLnT530ai-J3vSHvX/s320/1200px-Dr._E._Faye_Williams%252C_National_President-CEO_of_the_National_Congress_of_Black_Women%252C_speaking_outside_Mitch_McConnell%2527s_house_on_Capitol_Hill_%252832793689145%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Dr. E. Faye Williams, National President/CEO of the National Congress of Black Women, speaking outside Mitch McConnell's house on Capitol Hill, <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/number7cloud/32793689145/" target="_blank">Photo by Lorie Shaull</a> (CC 2.0)</span></div>
</h3>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-79858858835932766162018-09-30T21:14:00.002-07:002018-10-07T16:38:01.929-07:00Furious Justice<h3>
Furies</h3>
I chose to put the furies as my profile picture on Facebook today.<br />
<br />
The furies are deities of the underworld that came into the Greek pantheon from something much older. I learned about them when I was attending college in the 80’s. When we read the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Oresteia, we also discussed the morality of the series of deaths… each one, after the first, vengeance for the previous.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Agamemnon murdered his daughter Iphigenia, </li>
<li>Clytemnestra avenged her daughter by killing Agamemnon, her husband, </li>
<li>Orestes killed Clytemnestra, his mother, to avenge his father’s murder. </li>
</ul>
In each case, the furies heard the curses and prayers of the wronged, and came to mete out justice.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugjhoc19PBQnDSD7DVPxjq6Mxpql0_1kbDy301V9qKTQc6idXgQS0cJ-F99Y1h7KZT4YhPukQdUbGMnEeTw-hv6UTzYHKiIIATIVTqjCEIhyKx1IURmyp8PAHbPu0O_T5fPgb/s1600/Orestes_%2528torso%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="330" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugjhoc19PBQnDSD7DVPxjq6Mxpql0_1kbDy301V9qKTQc6idXgQS0cJ-F99Y1h7KZT4YhPukQdUbGMnEeTw-hv6UTzYHKiIIATIVTqjCEIhyKx1IURmyp8PAHbPu0O_T5fPgb/s320/Orestes_%2528torso%2529.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Remorse of Orestes by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1862) from Wikimedia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Super interesting deities! The furies or “Erinyes”, were created by the blood from patricide falling on Gaeia/Mother Earth. That makes me think that they are natures’ way of responding to crimes against family and love and the natural order.<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h3>
I Believe Survivors</h3>
Just as the furies heard the injured and the wronged, I believe survivors. (If you do not believe Christine Blasey Ford and the too many women (and men) who have spoken about their experiences during the #metoo movement and more recently, then this is not for you. I’ll redirect you to this <a href="http://theeverygirl.com/why-believing-survivors-is-important/">excellent article</a>.)<br />
<br />
This week the internet has been full of Fury. So much fury! Women’s fury may be one key ingredient of the saving of the race. Women on my Facebook feed are posting images of women’s power: Gloria Steinem, Angela Davis, themselves looking stern, saying "no".<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMRGsWkPMl8vXW19F0uBYPjVDsbdQfeqwqyv32YJU5VyUbQdQIxwfW6kN4RtMncCaz-Fo0R4jMTSUY88c-AJ_9b7VfPvkct-LqpaUmEhKFuOAS3CEdHaeZdkMIZ9zEc6ZkqY5/s1600/Shirley-Chisholm-for-President.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMRGsWkPMl8vXW19F0uBYPjVDsbdQfeqwqyv32YJU5VyUbQdQIxwfW6kN4RtMncCaz-Fo0R4jMTSUY88c-AJ_9b7VfPvkct-LqpaUmEhKFuOAS3CEdHaeZdkMIZ9zEc6ZkqY5/s320/Shirley-Chisholm-for-President.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shirley Chisholm for president poster, 1972 (public domain)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In college I was learning about the furies. And I was comforting the women in my dorm who had been assaulted, raped, or sexually harassed. I wanted to see the perpetrators brought to justice but we all hesitated. The law was complex, and we were taught to be nice girls. But we did pass the names of the perpetrators among us as warnings.<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h3>
Avenging Women</h3>
I claim the furies as gods of the matrifocal cultures predating Greek city states. As often happens, the older gods show up in the cultures that supplant them. So the Odyssey and the Orestia depict the Erinyes as hags and harpies, as hysterical females with serpents for hair. The furies chased the wrongdoer and drove them mad. But still, in these stories they are powerful in their vengeance of a woman wronged.<br />
<br />
Women on my Facebook feed are posting classical works of art that depict women murdering men. Judith and Holofernes, the Gorgon.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTnwCaWDecI_htdoNGV4K_TfSg4v6BCJkcSAc3Ycrq9ulZluu19gj9kK0bcvZs626qseEs6G7uKeBzqjYHjh6kyf0RaM8yNzDKt3dbfYdSMguVY1W8C2qyIfjg4bXOGvqWv-N/s1600/Judith+and+Holofernes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTnwCaWDecI_htdoNGV4K_TfSg4v6BCJkcSAc3Ycrq9ulZluu19gj9kK0bcvZs626qseEs6G7uKeBzqjYHjh6kyf0RaM8yNzDKt3dbfYdSMguVY1W8C2qyIfjg4bXOGvqWv-N/s320/Judith+and+Holofernes.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Slaying Holofernes, 1620-21, oil on canvas, 162.5 x 199 cm (Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy) from Wikimedia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Orestia goes on to describe how Athena and Apollo argue over the role of the furies. Athena, in this story, is the woman as a tool of patriarchy, denying the voice of women in favor of law. In this story Athena ends up being in the side of the law and the side of being nice. She renamed the furies “Eumenides”: the kindly ones.<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h3>
Taming the Fury</h3>
Calling them Eumenides is a way of trying to tame them, make them “nice”. From then on the Eumenides could enforce justice, but only if the process of trial and law gave them the power. No longer were they able to respond to the cries for help from the wronged. No longer could they be the givers of natural consequences.<br />
<br />
Revenge and justice are rarely the same thing. The furies reacted to damage to the natural order and their actions were as simple as addition and subtraction. A life equals a life, a death demands another death. However, in line with that logic lies eternal retribution and no end nor restitution.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="361" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNUWlf0B_PLbYnlXudxG1vsUn0oGYEqugqkWZOCK7bZwxsImxQUb9z6pG3VpM0r1WBLCB8yA_8T1ncuQ3n-y5-rSUqonKvm-MbvD5SeYs4m4qvh8EeBdsem-h6OwEeIY2oi1n/s320/two+of+swords.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="180" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/144957155@N06/32061143035" target="_blank">Tarot card, "Two of Swords," produced in 1916 (public domain)</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
I learned from the Tarot cards that there are two justices. The divine justice, the kind that comes as consequences which also allows for amends or atonement. The blind justice (or two of swords) is the justice that humans attempt to achieve. Blind justice stripped the power of natural consequences from the furies. By establishing the rule of law, Athena and Apollo did attempt to stop the endless eye for an eye cycle that the furies were pursuing, but rather than finding an avenue for atonement or amends, they simply contained that primal power.<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h3>
True Justice</h3>
True justice acknowledges the possibility of return to right relationship. But it also allows for natural consequences to the violation of natural order.<br />
<br />
When the rule of law is used to oppress, to silence and to enforce decorum, of what use is it?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4031236" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlUDfXIadI5-NbBgr5JIKYl0Toj40dM_2A2ocnwmJ0bHyOimuK3OxCDvSObBv5MGVZlLUReNHAjLSkg9iT_ZJsyl477_w0_U7gKLav-wXE_yVA4Yb5L6PXBuz0MpZoyQt7Uw1/s320/Justice+as+mom.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4031236" target="_blank">Scales of Justice statue, Middlesbrough, holding two fighting children, created by sculptor Graham Ibbeson, 1991</a> Photo by <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/3462" rel="cc:attributionURL dct:creator" title="View profile">Oliver Dixon</a> <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4031236">(Creative Commons 2.0)</a></td></tr>
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<br />
After reading and seeing parts of the Kavanaugh hearing I had an excruciatingly stiff neck. When I started receiving invitations to change my Facebook profile picture to plain black I suddenly put it together. Silencing the survivors and pain around my throat chakra. I was in so much pain I could not even sit at my computer to try to give voice to this blog post.<br />
<br />
We need the voices of women, of survivors, of the marginalized and the wronged, now.<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h3>
Are You Furious?</h3>
Where are or Who are the furies now? It would seem that social media has taken their forms. Are memes, animated gifs, and video shorts how natural consequences respond to the cries of the wronged and oppressed!? There truly is enough to drive anyone mad.<br />
<br />
Instead of passively clicking “like”, or changing our Facebook profile picture, we could strive to be the hands, voices and instruments of natural justice, (or Karma as many people in the West seem to call it). Perhaps we need to be the voice of Gaeia.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
The law can imperfectly exact some justice, but there are also ways and places where it ties the hands of justice: de-fangs the furies.<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h3>
Hope</h3>
We hope for consequences for wrong doing. We hope that that the liar, the cheater, the avaricious has a failed business because people do not choose to trust them or do business with them. We hope that the rapist or harasser become involuntarily celibate and is lonely. We hope that the survivors of racism, colonialism, sexism, capitalism, gender binary oppression, all the survivors have voices that are heard by the furies.<br />
<br />
We are the furies. We Are the hands and voices and forces for justice on this earth. We hope that those who are not survivors of these things, but are allies, or just people with compassion, will also live according to the natural justice of the furies.<br />
<br />
No, not hope. We persist, and we will prevail.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1AuWovXHC4ZtQoJCy9VLUtEtF2sSmkE7UF_7Sjlo9MrF-JHNhNd6h5gmZsCVv99lh0qo3CwN-sXEvSrhblplXFlzdP0l11UI3JPk9WtGug3yK3vxyPCt1JkRb4j9U9V1jHgV/s1600/4464982807_f564ff2775_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1AuWovXHC4ZtQoJCy9VLUtEtF2sSmkE7UF_7Sjlo9MrF-JHNhNd6h5gmZsCVv99lh0qo3CwN-sXEvSrhblplXFlzdP0l11UI3JPk9WtGug3yK3vxyPCt1JkRb4j9U9V1jHgV/s320/4464982807_f564ff2775_z.jpg" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">denise carbonell, cc2.0</td></tr>
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<br />Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-41081884932295662452018-09-22T18:43:00.002-07:002018-09-22T18:43:38.539-07:00Autumn Equinox: Harvest Home<h3>
We are not our own</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Return again, return again, <br />return to the home of your soul</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Return to who you are Return to what you are <br />Return to where you are</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Born and reborn again</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TIRpGRN86pDi4eB56ED5PHEg2qMzVS62ZUss9wBYXig0S9l6eTWqZhLm_ZuDnPgjRPe95QpIff9KqsQ60l6j_fr1ZIQAuvPYin4a84U9nmjOnC8gYAlU4Kv2Qx57P-1QfCF8/s1600/autumn-leaves-13016839608be.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TIRpGRN86pDi4eB56ED5PHEg2qMzVS62ZUss9wBYXig0S9l6eTWqZhLm_ZuDnPgjRPe95QpIff9KqsQ60l6j_fr1ZIQAuvPYin4a84U9nmjOnC8gYAlU4Kv2Qx57P-1QfCF8/s320/autumn-leaves-13016839608be.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a class="text_color" href="http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/" itemprop="license" rel="license" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #a5a5a5; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">CC0 Public Domain</span></a></td></tr>
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We are created and re-created by our relationships with our world, our family our institutions, and our experiences. We are constantly born and reborn again.<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Earth forms us</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Air moves us, fire transforms us, water shapes us, earth heals us</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>And the balance of the wheel goes round and round (the balance of the wheel goes round)</i></div>
<i><br /></i>
As the seasons pass we return to what we were, but each season of return we are also new. As the season ends again, and a new season, begins, it is a time to reflect on how we will approach this season anew. We are reborn.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZWCBwyzs8PCrhZ6fFZdeKvyhSiVU-9PqVu-2lAxWBnJLHRxMdWT2tzm0aUCeNCUjTZVMpxzygpVh4z7V0LxsWWkGRIwpXGb9yh75tLj_U9BWWCNDL9PryHntXenIircCaS0J/s1600/astonomical+equinoxes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZWCBwyzs8PCrhZ6fFZdeKvyhSiVU-9PqVu-2lAxWBnJLHRxMdWT2tzm0aUCeNCUjTZVMpxzygpVh4z7V0LxsWWkGRIwpXGb9yh75tLj_U9BWWCNDL9PryHntXenIircCaS0J/s1600/astonomical+equinoxes.png" /></a></div>
<br />
The nights are getting cooler, the days are still warm, and there is something magical in the sunlight, for it seems silvery and indirect. And we move closer to the hearth. The shorter day creates longer evening hours. For many, it marks the end of the summer and travel season. This time coincides with the return to school. Homecoming leads us into the fall marking the final days of freedom the summer provided. As we gather the last of the tomatoes or start working on our homework from school, our attention is suddenly arrested by the sound of trumpeting from the skies, as lines of geese cut silhouettes across the moon.<br />
<br />
Week before last, the rains came and we moved indoors. We were reminded that winter rains will be with us soon.<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Give thanks</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
The rain turned my attention to my rain barrels. All summer water is a precious resource for the garden. The water from the roof of my house is gathered together, in the rain barrels, flowing together. Then the rain from the barrels in turn feeds the garden.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LRADuG1arHyfT_YyOySkS3ivuIdEXg6EeeYDW8r1AzMSyeoBOy2mI899Llavkg-jrDKQF0sJ26EUPdG0-VoMf1RgQm5VQfNBwGvkdpbMsKqBrqLKe2wc8nb7rbl3kE-bmwEZ/s1600/405px-Amazonriverbasin_basemap.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="405" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LRADuG1arHyfT_YyOySkS3ivuIdEXg6EeeYDW8r1AzMSyeoBOy2mI899Llavkg-jrDKQF0sJ26EUPdG0-VoMf1RgQm5VQfNBwGvkdpbMsKqBrqLKe2wc8nb7rbl3kE-bmwEZ/s320/405px-Amazonriverbasin_basemap.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazon river basin: many streams feeding one great river by <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Kmusser" style="background: none rgb(248, 249, 250); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.3px; text-align: start;" title="User:Kmusser">Kmusser</a></td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
The garden keeps me connected to the cycles of life. The longest day and the shortest day of the year, the solstices, and the days midway between, the equinoxes, mark the turning of the year. Now, in the time of the fall equinox, the cucumber vines are dying, the tomatoes are putting out their last crop & the butternut squash is being revealed, huge and almost ready to pick.<br />
<br />
Mother earth, Gaia, gives us much. And we need to give back to her as well.<br />
<br />
How shall we give thanks: We can celebrate, we can engage in ritual, and we can give back.<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Celebrate with ritual</h3>
<br />
Rituals for this season acknowledge the sacrifice of the spirit of vegetation. Rituals often include an enactment of the death and resurrection of the vegetation spirit. The greenman gives way to the hunter or the holly king.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhdHVLXrgWYmFaDbW0lCF8yUoqMAQyowoVjejdB5ywUBLO16P0VzcymzBHlYl7YMaUDHFVtWAOGGWLSjdbCBzUkPXpgpEVevewsnadJbB4TSVDJHFimL4lmMpdsvN5oDaX5s9/s1600/green-man-3396289_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhdHVLXrgWYmFaDbW0lCF8yUoqMAQyowoVjejdB5ywUBLO16P0VzcymzBHlYl7YMaUDHFVtWAOGGWLSjdbCBzUkPXpgpEVevewsnadJbB4TSVDJHFimL4lmMpdsvN5oDaX5s9/s320/green-man-3396289_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pixabay.com/en/service/terms/#usage" target="_blank">License CC0</a></td></tr>
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<br />
Mythically, this is the day of the year when the God of Light is defeated by his twin and alter ego, the God of Darkness. It is the time of the year when night conquers day. This is a threshold time. We are grieving for something we are losing while welcoming the new. We are grateful for the days of heat and light while our fields and gardens ripened and we played. And now we are grateful for the shift to the cool wet of winter.<br />
<br />
Our winter is a season of rain. So a water ceremony is common in Unitarian Universalist congregations for our ritual of harvest home. Like the Rain barrels, our community gathers the water, representing the gifts we bring to community and all we have reaped from our summer. The water ceremony represents an ingathering of our spiritual community. Our water flows together and then that water feeds the garden of our community.<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Give Back</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
In our gratitude we give back to the earth, and all things living. Our gifts are our liturgies of care. The harvest must be shared. We take care of all in our community.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>What harvest do you have to share? </li>
<li>What is coming to fruition within you?</li>
<li>Maybe it is a bounty of zucchini, or maybe a bounty of baby clothes…</li>
</ul>
<br />
Recess is over. Now is the time to learn and the time to share.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQYb5d_6Se5-SMQt5eCsoSPEbYUFE8iwt0JSFczyB2cN76yyeDuZdTJb7IZeGcJdSQ4TqFei7GYGs4PlsxSxuZw5PeD8VRvfrUYgZ42jad0u1jAE7op0n7n2l8jrZNqco6LEV/s1600/zucchini-vegetables-green-zucchini-bio-162718.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="940" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQYb5d_6Se5-SMQt5eCsoSPEbYUFE8iwt0JSFczyB2cN76yyeDuZdTJb7IZeGcJdSQ4TqFei7GYGs4PlsxSxuZw5PeD8VRvfrUYgZ42jad0u1jAE7op0n7n2l8jrZNqco6LEV/s320/zucchini-vegetables-green-zucchini-bio-162718.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a class="text_color" href="http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/" itemprop="license" rel="license" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #a5a5a5; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">CC0 Public Domain</span></a></td></tr>
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<br />Whether you are parenting, teaching in RE. Being a friend, or writing... there are so many ways you can share that which you have nurtured within yourself. And always, the best gift you can give to the universe is to continue to grow.<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
We Are Not Alone</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>And if love's encounters lead us on a way uncertain and unknown,</i></div>
<i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><i>all the saints with prayer surround us: We are not alone.</i></i></div>
<i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
</i><br />
Growing and giving back is not always easy, but we don’t have to do it alone! We are surrounded by our community, and we are surrounded by the legacy of those who have gone before us. As the song goes:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Forward through the ages, in unbroken line,</i></div>
<i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><i>Move the faithful spirits, at the call divine. </i></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdep0bwW4JpBQm-P3nCftRSrSRLveI0axk8j6YjCBza9DyYtxwqYlPRSEjyg-H_BI3A2vjJKpoooOkuHuFtIc4mDZcCFoq93FEDGSghOA7XiriRdLfSXHBU2pibUahtOluTEOv/s1600/Rain_Chain_Japanese_Bell.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdep0bwW4JpBQm-P3nCftRSrSRLveI0axk8j6YjCBza9DyYtxwqYlPRSEjyg-H_BI3A2vjJKpoooOkuHuFtIc4mDZcCFoq93FEDGSghOA7XiriRdLfSXHBU2pibUahtOluTEOv/s320/Rain_Chain_Japanese_Bell.gif" width="80" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Rutlandguttersupply" style="background: none rgb(248, 249, 250); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.3px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;" title="User:Rutlandguttersupply">Rutlandguttersupply</a></td></tr>
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Many are the faithful spirits, and they are an unbroken line, stretching back through time, like a chain. I imagine this chain is like a rain chain. A rain chain is something you hang from your downspout. The rain runoff runs down it. The rain chain I see in my mind’s eye is one with bells. Each bell sounds a note as the water runs down. Each of us is a part of the chain. Each of us sounds our own particular note. Each of us is enriched by the gifts of those who came before. We make music for the ages. They sowed what we harvest. We are not alone.<br />
<br />
We are also surrounded by the community that exists with us in the now. We can reach out our hands and stand side by side.<br />
<br />
We need our community. Often I feel like Piglet, in Winnie the Pooh in this passage from the books by A.A. Milne.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. <br />"Pooh?" he whispered. "Yes, Piglet?" <br />"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand. <br />"I just wanted to be sure of you."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
In our family, in our neighborhood, in our community of faith, we let us be sure of one another.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-11990089916457712322018-09-03T05:00:00.000-07:002018-09-03T05:00:01.102-07:00Tending the Seeds, Turning the Wheel<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Turning the Wheel</span></h3>
"Witches' work is turning the wheel", says Minneapolis witch <a href="http://stevenposch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Steven Posch</span></a>. This is a reference to progress; the progression through the seasons AND the progression of justice.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpC5qafsu2flDV8bem7XdqFeCREl0qE7K_NWrWHByKq4fJOuEtg-dSUQapCgqTPP9qgfAZ7mYY7TH8MXtNSeIxiBoSzIbA0sEuJpGSGHMug-g_NLksJMqqp2scgunIdLJIJyd/s1600/762px-Wheel_of_the_Year.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="762" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpC5qafsu2flDV8bem7XdqFeCREl0qE7K_NWrWHByKq4fJOuEtg-dSUQapCgqTPP9qgfAZ7mYY7TH8MXtNSeIxiBoSzIbA0sEuJpGSGHMug-g_NLksJMqqp2scgunIdLJIJyd/s320/762px-Wheel_of_the_Year.JPG" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A painted <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><a class="extiw" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_of_the_Year" style="background: none rgb(248, 249, 250); color: #663366; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;" title="w:Wheel of the Year">Wheel of the Year</a><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #222222;"> from the </span><a class="extiw" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_Witchcraft" style="background: none rgb(248, 249, 250); color: #663366; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;" title="w:Museum of Witchcraft">Museum of Witchcraft</a><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #222222;">, Boscastle by </span></span><a class="new" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Midnightblueowl" style="background: none rgb(248, 249, 250); color: #a55858; text-align: start;" target="_blank" title="User:Midnightblueowl (page does not exist)"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Midnightblueowl</span></a></td></tr>
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Many of the earth-honoring traditions see the acknowledgement of the turning of the seasons as a religious duty. For Wiccans, celebrating the solstices, equinoxes, and cross quarter days connects us to the cycles of the seasons and gives us a framework for the spiritual work we do. The seasons progress from the incubation of Winter. Then we move, with the earth and the sun to embarking and planting of Spring. Next comes tending what we have planted in the Summer. Then, our attention turns to the harvest or manifestation of Autumn. The wheel of the seasons turns finally to integration, a kind of storing-of-insights, when the cycle to begins again with Winter incubation.<br />
<br />
There are four ways that "Turning the Wheel" rituals are important. First, it is valuable to acknowledge, celebrate and simply NOTICE the changes in the world around you. Second, participating in the rituals of seasonal progression has an internal psychological and spiritual effect, creating internal transformation. Third, many people believe that these rituals have a physical effect on the natural world. Fourth, the transformation that is wrought within each participant can manifest in action to create changes in the world through our voices, hands, behavior and votes.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Poetic Truth</h3>
<br />
There's a fine line between turning the wheel, where we think of our rituals as necessary for the life cycle to continue, and celebrating the wheel, where we think of our seasonal rituals as inspiration for internal and societal transformation. Indigenous teachers are often vague about making this distinction. <a href="http://www.mohawkcommunity.com/home/ourbeliefs.html" target="_blank">They are speaking poetic and mythological truths</a>. Back when I lived in upstate NY, I heard the Iroquois elder, Ama Lee, urge those of us living in Iroquois territory to do the rituals because the the <a href="http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/Byrnes-celebrations/corn.html" target="_blank">corn needs the rituals of "the people"</a> in order for it to thrive.<br />
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Personally, I'm agnostic about the effects of human rituals on the plants and the earth. Acknowledging the poetic reality where our rituals are necessary to our natural world, I'm willing to participate without empirical evidence. I do have evidence, however, that our rituals have real effects in each person's psyche, and our social interconnections.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxzuITboaaV1Z2yAoNDur2pw4cBdn2gMtY54mK8YP9iFJoL5g5z6ImfJZQ6QI3LvGd4tyVhKka76iWg1YyBTa2RqoIGUQiUsiK95eUsnAE4R4Y8VbbaUsC-JSAaHIMILQFeNp/s1600/countryside-vegetable-garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxzuITboaaV1Z2yAoNDur2pw4cBdn2gMtY54mK8YP9iFJoL5g5z6ImfJZQ6QI3LvGd4tyVhKka76iWg1YyBTa2RqoIGUQiUsiK95eUsnAE4R4Y8VbbaUsC-JSAaHIMILQFeNp/s320/countryside-vegetable-garden.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=128233&picture=countryside-vegetable-garden" target="_blank">Countryside Vegetable Garden</a> - <a href="http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/" target="_blank">CCO Public Domain</a></td></tr>
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We in the Northern hemisphere are in the harvest time of year. Our backyard garden is trying to escape the fence. The blueberries we picked are frozen and ready to burst flavor in January and February. The cucumbers from our garden are outpacing our ability to eat, turn them into soup, or pickle them. But what spiritual insights are emerging at this time? What can we harvest from the planting and tending we've done over the Spring and Summer?<br />
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<h3>
Change in the Real World</h3>
<br />
Certainly in the area of U.S. politics seeds have been planted. The response to the current administration has opened up awareness of deep divisions in our country and activated well-meaning, but heretofore unaware people of privilege, to work for justice. More people who LOOK LIKE and LIVE LIKE the people they will be representing are running for office. This change in the political landscape will be harvested in November. I plan to tend, as best I can, this new life and hope so that people from school board members to senators are elected who will lead our people toward justice, compassion, and a return to ideals which I value most about our nation. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRAIdxmm2rp61gpfAPfx6Ra3d5Gr3HfJneiSUBjZODO16STV7j3k-SMIKFafIpf5crRQ6gPjCOUuGwfTbA38FgQvVyNfzeN01vbb2w-zm9Qa8yGNgLAfrhDeR9ywLbDEB3RZd/s1600/Strike_and_a_protest_march_for_a_%252415_minimum_wage_in_Dinkytown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRAIdxmm2rp61gpfAPfx6Ra3d5Gr3HfJneiSUBjZODO16STV7j3k-SMIKFafIpf5crRQ6gPjCOUuGwfTbA38FgQvVyNfzeN01vbb2w-zm9Qa8yGNgLAfrhDeR9ywLbDEB3RZd/s320/Strike_and_a_protest_march_for_a_%252415_minimum_wage_in_Dinkytown.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2015 Strike in "Dinkytown" Minneapolis/St. Paul - Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/fibonacciblue/17163026731/in/photolist-s9CZTZ-rS5LvL-rS52Z1-s9w2ZN-rcE3yj-rS5fKc-rSf1Ug-rcHWDz-rcU3zT-s9CQi6-rQk3ZD-rS6Xu5-rcEbxf-rcGdhd-rSfeGk-rSbgU4-fEtqBB-fEKKTE-fEsVzc-fEt376-fEtcuz-fEKLKQ-fEt6na-fEKwn3-fEt2bB-fEKXdU-fEKKwu-fEL3fJ-fEtgEn-fEtdj4-fEsMWB-fEtfHF-fEtanT-fEKHos-fEKUq1-fEKUUJ-fEsZ3X-fEthyB-fEKt6A-fEtqZi-fEsXUB-fEKYby-fEtrj8-fEsK3p-fEKjk7-fEsCYp-fEsFKH-fEsC78-fEKcA5-fEsDoZ" target="_blank">FibonacciBlue</a></td></tr>
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Seeds were planted in the area of economic justice as my town, and others, adopted new minimum wage laws. On April 15th, 2015 fast food workers across the USA walked out on strike to hold protests and marches demanding a $15/hour minimum wage. In the Twin Cities, striking fast food workers were joined by university workers, students, janitors, retail workers and airport workers. They call for a $15/hour minimum wage, paid sick days, and fairer scheduling of work hours. For large employers, the minimum wage became $9.65 on January 1, 2018. In Portland, Oregon, where I am, beginning July 1, 2018 the minimum wage increased to $10.75.<br />
<h3>
<br />Labor Day</h3>
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Labor day was instituted in response to the work of unions and labor justice activists. The work of change-making was not easy. There were divisions of culture and language among the workers. The owners controlled the police and militias. The workers were mostly immigrants so they didn't have the sympathies of the general public. Never-the-less, they persisted.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QoTyWAMLtojzEjoonWcIIV94FkWsbOHXWREVNf9qAGj9V8KJX868YBhet0iKZtN6GchSjpwRNq5S5ycpmrAnMhrH2l8NuYIdNAJpGRyQJbEsofrduhrM9Ip2dfSfuNDXh6iN/s1600/1912_Lawrence_Textile_Strike_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="496" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QoTyWAMLtojzEjoonWcIIV94FkWsbOHXWREVNf9qAGj9V8KJX868YBhet0iKZtN6GchSjpwRNq5S5ycpmrAnMhrH2l8NuYIdNAJpGRyQJbEsofrduhrM9Ip2dfSfuNDXh6iN/s320/1912_Lawrence_Textile_Strike_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://womhist.binghamton.edu/teacher/DBQlaw2.htm" target="_blank">IWW Textile workers face militia during 1912 strike in Lawrence MA</a></td></tr>
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Child labor laws, the weekend, fair wages and safe working environments were instituted because of the pressure the workers put on the companies and government. All these things have been eroded over time. We have allowed the war against unions, that is waged through propaganda, to turn the wheel back.<br />
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There is argument about whether the current United States is an o<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligarchy" target="_blank">ligarchy</a> (rule by a few who hold power of various kinds) or plutocracy (rule by the rich). Whichever it is, we generally agree that the workers of the United States do not feel represented by their elected officials. As the influence of unions has eroded, there is no longer a strong, unified, force protecting workers.<br />
<br />
This is the work of this age, to rebuild the connections, solidarity, and heart for activism that defies the forces of economic greed. This is the work of turning the wheel. This is the work of earth-honoring people and all those who recognize the one-ness of our sacred worth.<br />
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<h3>
From the labor movement to laboring for one another</h3>
<br />
After the wave of activism that gave us unions, there were other waves of solidarity and activism. Other movements toward caring for our fellow human beings and our home, planet earth. Feminism, anti-racism, fair treatment for people with disabilities, eco-consciousness… All of these began to take hold through the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.<br />
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If you watched the movie “Hidden Figures” you probably noticed the many challenges women of color experienced while working at NASA. One main reason Katherine Johnson, and many other women, got jobs at NASA was that the men were at war and employers were desperate to find talented, brilliant people, even if they were women, and even if they were women of color. Desperation turned the wheel toward progress.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvRlgHqslPCJvHWiLGRbfthUp6SA7FvDJ0zpjRtX2MwlAe0meUUUuV9szHK62esCD-pvgS2h3QLh7ob-n5EtWo0iqHHoHs6PBwy0CnmywhQW2FsuaDNGmq6jOq6LVxzHDR7YM/s1600/1200px-Hidden_Figures_cast_at_the_Kennedy_Space_Center_%252830806689964%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvRlgHqslPCJvHWiLGRbfthUp6SA7FvDJ0zpjRtX2MwlAe0meUUUuV9szHK62esCD-pvgS2h3QLh7ob-n5EtWo0iqHHoHs6PBwy0CnmywhQW2FsuaDNGmq6jOq6LVxzHDR7YM/s320/1200px-Hidden_Figures_cast_at_the_Kennedy_Space_Center_%252830806689964%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Actors and producer of "Hidden Figures" <a class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/108488366@N07" rel="nofollow" style="background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url("about:blank") rgb(248, 249, 250); color: #663366; padding-right: 13px;">NASA Kennedy</a><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #222222;">/Kim Shiflett</span></span></td></tr>
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I recently read an article that was written by a psychologist about Donald Trump. He made some guesses about Trump's mental health. His analysis applies to ALL people who misuse power. He advises us to "<a href="https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/07/27/inside-the-mind-of-donald-trump-219074" target="_blank">be clearer than ever about your core values, beliefs and principles, and rely on them for guidance and comfort.</a>" His advice for those of us who are working to create a world of compassion, justice, and sustainability applies no matter who the current "person in power" is.<br />
<br />
We need to speak truth to power. We need to be prophets in the Hebrew Bible sense (one who tells the people in power how they are wrong and what they need to do to better serve their God.) We need to turn the wheel of justice. We need to "<a href="https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/07/27/inside-the-mind-of-donald-trump-219074" target="_blank">Challenge every day the natural inclination to feel overwhelmed, fatigued or numb.</a>"<br />
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<h3>
Your Wheel May Not Look Like My Wheel</h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span></span>he wheel of the year as passed down from English strains of pagandom don't make sense in many locations in the world. My father in Chile tells me about the cooling temps while I talk about trees budding out. My cousin in Hawaii, like island and equatorial people, pays attention to seasons of rain and arid months. Climate change is shifting much of what many of us experienced in our childhoods.<br />
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We are so mobile now, traveling far from the places we grew up, that the seasonal rhythm you knew as a child may have no bearing on the seasonal rhythm where you live now. I travel with my spouse from Oregon, where I grew up, to the South West in the Winter. At first the desert felt like a foreign land, even a moonscape, to me. We've learned to live lightly in our travel trailer in a dry climate. Even simple changes, like how we wash dishes are different from what we do in the very wet Winter of Oregon. I've had to learn about this new-to-me land, and a learn a new way of honoring the season of Winter there. I've also learned different ways of being a part of social change because Southern Arizona is very different from Portland Oregon!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Seasons1.svg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By following Duoduoduo's advice, vector image: Gothika. ([1]) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Seasons1" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Seasons1.svg/512px-Seasons1.svg.png" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note: Distances are exaggerated and not to scale</td></tr>
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We need to look, listen, pay attention to the cycles of the natural world where we are and learn what they are telling us, for the place where each of us is now. We need to look, listen, pay attention to the rhythms and changes of the political, social, and cultural worlds as well.</div>
<h3>
<br />Turn Your Wheel</h3>
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So, yes, pay attention to the rituals so that the corn, (or sugar cane, or sweet potato, or peanuts, or whatever fills that niche in your area) can thrive. And pay attention to these rituals so that your heart and your head and your spirit deepen into your core values, beliefs and principles. Do the rituals so you can shift toward planting seeds and tending the tiny growing tendrils of justice.<br />
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<a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/radio-paganistan-folktales-of-the-urban-witches-mw0001434562" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Turning the Wheel</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By </span><a href="http://stevenposch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Steven Posch</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (2003)</span></span></div>
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Witches' work is turning the wheel, <br />
and round the wheel doth turn.<br />
Time wheels, the world wheels,<br />
time and space<br />
embrace in the wheeling circle,<br />
the dance of the wheel.<br />
<br />
The only constant is constant change:<br />
the nature of a wheel is to turn.<br />
Witches' work is turning the wheel:<br />
to divine the course of change<br />
and to aid it, to add her will<br />
to the will of the wheel;<br />
for the witch is the agent of change.<br />
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And witches' work is turning the wheel,<br />
and round the wheel doth turn.<br />
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Reverend Amy provides spiritual mentoring to dispirited helpers yearning to uncover and use their spiritual superpowers to create more love and justice in the world. See more at <span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://amybeltaine.info/" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://AmyBeltaine.info</a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div>
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Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-63766504973858031692018-08-11T21:37:00.000-07:002020-03-05T15:05:19.310-08:00What Type of "Witch" are You?<h2>
What Type of Witch are You?</h2>
Moon witch? Forest Witch? Bone Witch? Which witch are you? I was thinking about the types of magic, the types of lore, and the types of devotion earth-honoring and deities-relating folks engage in. I think of them as moon, forest, and bone domains. Inhabited by Moon, Forest, and Bone witches. Then I realized that I’d developed this idea before… for a game!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbCiNXdQ-QaFIRDbgHO3L_3ni7joH1KAP_-fpUMAjWD5pp1xahYf1XOg_P5-DiP9-BQkSNHv55smYE7zmcD-EF2b5nLMPcRlYAqvjcwahNLREfPYhBJUQiXpVBDm52_9phFLE/s1600/bone+forest+moon+concept.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="714" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbCiNXdQ-QaFIRDbgHO3L_3ni7joH1KAP_-fpUMAjWD5pp1xahYf1XOg_P5-DiP9-BQkSNHv55smYE7zmcD-EF2b5nLMPcRlYAqvjcwahNLREfPYhBJUQiXpVBDm52_9phFLE/s320/bone+forest+moon+concept.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moon, Forest, or Bone Witch? Which are you?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The latest D&D players handbook includes the “Warlock” class (a class is a sort of profession for your player). Anyone who has been in Paganism or earth-honoring spirituality probably knows that the word warlock means oathbreaker and we usually use ‘witch’ instead. (Yes, there are male witches.) The D&D warlock also is described as using “pact magic” which I imagine is reminiscent of the “pact with the devil” ideas made up by the medieval witch hunters.<br />
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So I created an alternative D&D class called Witch. As I mapped out the skills the witch would have I realized that I could easily conceive of three types of witches. Astral, Green, and Blood.<br />
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<h3>
Astral Witches</h3>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8gITRmtXjaRtmNQjhRmDBREsEbA3t6yftoAfGbZvAep10fWT8Z2BQAyaDUB2_eHG5iYr7PFkZrI8l3bal89HJ5QqLNk_sE0qd_HTCg6aTpacDTx1gzZrsjxzfzvI3DSFNdPM/s1600/Merlin_%2528Don_Crosby%2529_by_Douglas_Baulch_1963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8gITRmtXjaRtmNQjhRmDBREsEbA3t6yftoAfGbZvAep10fWT8Z2BQAyaDUB2_eHG5iYr7PFkZrI8l3bal89HJ5QqLNk_sE0qd_HTCg6aTpacDTx1gzZrsjxzfzvI3DSFNdPM/s320/Merlin_%2528Don_Crosby%2529_by_Douglas_Baulch_1963.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Astral Witch" <br />
Don Crosby (Merlin) <br />
by Artist <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Douglas_Baulch&action=edit&redlink=1" target="_blank">Douglas Baulch</a> CC 3.0</td></tr>
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</div>
Astral witches are tuned into the planetary movements, the cycles of the seasons and the rotation of the earth. They derive their game powers from sunrises and sunsets, moon phases and astronomical events. They might be tarot card readers, astrologers, temple priest(esse)s or open ritual leaders. Moon witches, Sun witches, or Star witches are tuned into time and able to navigate by the stars. Astral witches are sometimes called wizards or sages and are wise about the timeless aspects of living - ethics, meaning, the rise and fall of civilizations. You find astral witches in urban contexts. <br />
<br />
<h3>
Green Witches</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZihkglM7xh8vSKu5GWyWs9v0mMd_muGOBcVMYV9gRV8weOEQLQDyAAUOXTGeNRA0jevFvRhd1LPHJONGvYooG7zHxVXrqQNLFZAueC0DenM738KRBvtqJReZYkVp2jqQ9yr_5/s1600/Agriculture_in_Britain-_Life_on_George_Casely%2527s_Farm%252C_Devon%252C_England%252C_1942_D9817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="800" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZihkglM7xh8vSKu5GWyWs9v0mMd_muGOBcVMYV9gRV8weOEQLQDyAAUOXTGeNRA0jevFvRhd1LPHJONGvYooG7zHxVXrqQNLFZAueC0DenM738KRBvtqJReZYkVp2jqQ9yr_5/s320/Agriculture_in_Britain-_Life_on_George_Casely%2527s_Farm%252C_Devon%252C_England%252C_1942_D9817.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George Casely uses a hazel twig to find water<br />
by <a href="http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib//21/media-21739/large.jpg">Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer</a>,<br />
<a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright/licence"> IWM Non-Commercial License</a></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Green witches derive their game powers from plants and the earth. They have a relationship (similar to druids in the game) to the land where they live and move. Like hedge witches of old, they can be healers, students of weather and growing things, and good cooks. Villagers seek out earth or land witches for help with gardens, children and love. You’ll find green witches affiliated with rural communities.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Blood Witches</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvsR1urNy6deDBYpaRD97v82BwYJhONG-Klc2JbaMartcopbfQ5wRLbiq8gC-ZIO2WhmjCGLUJHs3Y7OcsCIWqXl7uahcdVwzOjkyHyfg8VIxTJa_8P3OGcv9KaiO-62RD8e0/s1600/last+Tuvan+shaman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvsR1urNy6deDBYpaRD97v82BwYJhONG-Klc2JbaMartcopbfQ5wRLbiq8gC-ZIO2WhmjCGLUJHs3Y7OcsCIWqXl7uahcdVwzOjkyHyfg8VIxTJa_8P3OGcv9KaiO-62RD8e0/s1600/last+Tuvan+shaman.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last Tuvan shaman. <br />
Taken 1 week before her death. <br />
by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/david_baxendale/15743342019/in/photostream/" target="_blank">David Baxendale.</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/legalcode" target="_blank">CC BY-ND 2.0</a> </td></tr>
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Blood witches derive their game powers from their own (or others) lives, bodies, bones and blood. They, like ancient shamans, interact with the ancestors of a person and the spirits of animals. Like tribal priests throughout the world, they are wise about death, about the inner world, and are advisers to clans and tribes. Blood and bone witches, or shamans, might be birth midwives and death midwives and facilitate small community ritual. Blood witches affiliate with peoples, tribes, and families.<br />
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<h3>
Finding Your Type</h3>
Did you recognize any witches in your own life in these descriptions? Unlike D&D, in real life we can experience the wisdom of any of these three domains. We can embrace the spirit of Astral witches and work the magic of prophecy, warning people of the ethical errors of empire. As midwives, village healers, and caretakers of the community we can work the magic of herbal healing, whether it be through a cup of white willow bark tea for a headache or a cup of tea and conversation for a heartache. Like shamans we can work the magic of soul retrieval, reminding the community of their best selves, calling folks in, and singing the songs that remind us of our ancestors’ gifts. </div>
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All of us can do community ritual honoring the changing of the seasons, celebrating birth and mourning a death together and we can do private candle magic ceremonies to mark our own life milestones, aspirations, bondings, and bindings.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPeSjKJYQPrTooS3XuQP-9DeX_I1TjKOH27v9kLrBmJfiE2P4FQQpDTrPTsTWAc2h2rg5bA-P3kQpt8L5NtrrOWgXn7G2sdtMXoP7ZOkhdN_-_UHOTI1H2AVAZ2RAgobmo1gO/s1600/pexels-photo-355710+free+from+Pixabay.+jpg.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1022" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPeSjKJYQPrTooS3XuQP-9DeX_I1TjKOH27v9kLrBmJfiE2P4FQQpDTrPTsTWAc2h2rg5bA-P3kQpt8L5NtrrOWgXn7G2sdtMXoP7ZOkhdN_-_UHOTI1H2AVAZ2RAgobmo1gO/s320/pexels-photo-355710+free+from+Pixabay.+jpg.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image composite. Free from Pixabay</td></tr>
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My spiritual type has shifted over the years. I teach a class on spiritual types that takes into account your Enneagram type, MBTI and other factors. I used to exclusively identify with the green witch These days I’m resonating with the astral and blood witches as well. It might be age related, life phase related: moving from the immediate and practical, to the concerns of the public sphere, and finally, to the concerns of legacy and heritage. It might be that someone is authentically called to one type. Certainly I’ve seen young blood witches and old green witches. Or it can be something someone dances through all your life.<br />
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You might relate the astral witches to the priests and prophets, the green witches to the cunning men and cunning women, and the blood witches to the shamanic practitioners.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nTL0LaJy4Q6EB1MRmf2lazpN931HS1XDB-gwEnPoVvgY5S2eOu7_Rnp-QXqm2-PhwMldwUoVmr2q09CT83jn86d3dnXf0U1qsImNDnIqXpxrZIYAmpG4dMWb0QaGgFPUICom/s1600/cunning+mans+handbook.jpb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nTL0LaJy4Q6EB1MRmf2lazpN931HS1XDB-gwEnPoVvgY5S2eOu7_Rnp-QXqm2-PhwMldwUoVmr2q09CT83jn86d3dnXf0U1qsImNDnIqXpxrZIYAmpG4dMWb0QaGgFPUICom/s1600/cunning+mans+handbook.jpb.jpg" /></a></div>
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Was this enough to get you curious about which witch is alive in your soul right now?</div>
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Reverend Amy helps givers who are feeling disconnected or depleted to uncover and use their spiritual superpowers so you can conspire with divine love and build the world you dream of in flow and abundance. Learn more at <a href="http://amybeltaine.info/">http://amybeltaine.info</a>, Book <a href="https://fdyczb-free.10to8.com/" target="_blank">Here</a>.</div>
Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-64964146255717479302018-08-06T14:36:00.001-07:002018-08-13T20:42:14.312-07:00With Great Magic Comes Great Responsibility<h3>
Magical</h3>
Have you ever been so amazed, and overwhelmed (in a good way) that you said “It was magical, I got shivers!”? Looking back, each moment I said that, it was a moment of change in my consciousness, and change in my life. A moment of consequence!<br />
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In the stories and myths of our culture magic, or super-powers, are usually accompanied by a consequence. The Avengers are blamed for what goes wrong and treated with suspicion. The X-Men are persecuted. In a video game, using a power draws down your “mana” or life-force.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvRJdiHnC12_moQmdyMPOxotT5FW_RrjwzM7v1-rWSNQVuSDDpHjm0FhluKnewTGgRdIr08NuqzwHk49x2MXSmDH2sOxJgutJpquRe9dfzBvl7bul7gpag6paegCCmITdLnop/s1600/Unicorn+Ursula.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="921" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvRJdiHnC12_moQmdyMPOxotT5FW_RrjwzM7v1-rWSNQVuSDDpHjm0FhluKnewTGgRdIr08NuqzwHk49x2MXSmDH2sOxJgutJpquRe9dfzBvl7bul7gpag6paegCCmITdLnop/s320/Unicorn+Ursula.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The magical sword Excalibur, that made Arthur king when he pulled it from the stone had power that came with terrible consequences. Harry Potter’s magical powers came with ever increasing responsibility. In the Movie, Frozen, Queen Elsa struggles to accept her powers, and it is not until she accepts both her power AND the responsibilities that come with them, that they become a gift instead of a burden. As Stan Lee, the creator of Spiderman, said “with great power, must also come, great responsibility.”<br />
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<h3>
Responsibility</h3>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHTxN8TVRaMvr9gjq3CK0UzSqPbXQhKOOBl9aXqrEUoRExlTledoGyyDB25UfmS5lGgu1leKZMBXI9BKUEs5tmULA6GPXsnwzhW4LfVGzFPHjcX4UzheB-VXsbY_oZgAWzUQQ/s1600/Elsa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="623" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHTxN8TVRaMvr9gjq3CK0UzSqPbXQhKOOBl9aXqrEUoRExlTledoGyyDB25UfmS5lGgu1leKZMBXI9BKUEs5tmULA6GPXsnwzhW4LfVGzFPHjcX4UzheB-VXsbY_oZgAWzUQQ/s320/Elsa.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Composite from Disney film "Frozen"</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXHl_c_XPuV9IdCU9Yc6WSv1QytctwSKlsAEXBxgEQGIvTUWPXGNz2hQ6ngCe37-OnYCl3sBkrM-w1t5oPAdrLL41Ldy6Tf1KwrnWIm3L9ZrjMdkHgmlDEkYFRYFkTZFcW2fb/s1600/Marianne+Williamson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="487" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXHl_c_XPuV9IdCU9Yc6WSv1QytctwSKlsAEXBxgEQGIvTUWPXGNz2hQ6ngCe37-OnYCl3sBkrM-w1t5oPAdrLL41Ldy6Tf1KwrnWIm3L9ZrjMdkHgmlDEkYFRYFkTZFcW2fb/s320/Marianne+Williamson.JPG" width="320" /></a>The responsibility has to do with being in community. In the movie Frozen, Elsa’s powers were destructive when she was trying to suppress them: she made her entire kingdom sink into an eternal winter! Then, after she ran away she let go of the constraints she put on herself and ‘let it go”, but she cut herself off from her community. She needed love to invite her back into the community. When the community welcomed her, she accepted her responsibility and could use her powers in service to love and justice.<br />
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We are responsible for the things that we do. Running away does not fix that. But suppressing your own awesomeness also doesn't fix anything. You have a superpower, you probably have a couple. You are full of magic, I don't know what your magic is, but I bet your friends do... We each need our community, and they need our whole selves.<br />
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<h3>
Folk Religions</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SGPviphAT9lDspiaBx54uzxVpyQPIJfim31QiqdxCbMMThCEhJ4plwy-c8msTOdJvI95e3IY0XEYxt2uFMIxjJaIhamKvUKGNf7yXMCtTc1NdfAsREn1VDBHH63ICbbMMhW_/s1600/Jack+Adams.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="636" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SGPviphAT9lDspiaBx54uzxVpyQPIJfim31QiqdxCbMMThCEhJ4plwy-c8msTOdJvI95e3IY0XEYxt2uFMIxjJaIhamKvUKGNf7yXMCtTc1NdfAsREn1VDBHH63ICbbMMhW_/s320/Jack+Adams.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Pagan stories and traditions describe the power that comes from the earth as magic, indigenous traditions describe the power that arises from a tribe and ancestors as magic. As we learn from myth and tradition we all have access to some of that magic power.<br />
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In UU congregations we usually don’t talk about spiritual matters in terms of power. But in the Pagan and earth-relating worlds we talk about spiritual power. The Aborigine of Australia, and the Shinto teachings speak of the dangers and responsibility of working with the power of spirit. Sufi, especially Dervish, spirituality speaks to the overwhelming and transformative experience of feeling the divine flow through and within us. Psychologists tell of the great power that spiritual awareness yields.<br />
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<h3>
Creating Change</h3>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvFdJ_lCpp2_Sxb7pMt8yD4pNSf9YN5SL1d4sYQYufyCIv-H8gOV2rt3t2z3q0kQ31Q0HTt71_BnlRi7S7QKqllvIp-U9Mes2Hq6m6FnIwNAIHK5eejfTITPcdkbWniJPHC8e/s1600/Artists+rendering+of+creation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="576" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvFdJ_lCpp2_Sxb7pMt8yD4pNSf9YN5SL1d4sYQYufyCIv-H8gOV2rt3t2z3q0kQ31Q0HTt71_BnlRi7S7QKqllvIp-U9Mes2Hq6m6FnIwNAIHK5eejfTITPcdkbWniJPHC8e/s320/Artists+rendering+of+creation.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">artists interpretation of creation and the milky way</td></tr>
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There are many definitions of the word magic. One definition I like because it is compatible with what anthropologists learn from cultures that practice magic: Magic is creating change by connecting with the energies of nature and community. Some people go to the wilderness to recharge. Some go to the ocean to heal. We all need to mourn in community and celebrate marriages and milestones with community. When we look into a clear night sky and experience the vastness of space… we feel something… it's magic.<br />
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Around the world and throughout human history Indigenous traditions have tapped into this great spiritual power.<br />
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<h3>
Candle Magic</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MnpesgaSA_SQMKfzbKZB_c3IiQYau9Zv6H-neAQkJX0oozEyk_1cnm04Jfk1ZYS-gdjksrh1bBA9XGKcb-j5Yzm0ozVOA_UJS1grvFaRdv9cD-ilvKh3NuCNxLAgf53Oo1Ua/s1600/candle+lightings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1021" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MnpesgaSA_SQMKfzbKZB_c3IiQYau9Zv6H-neAQkJX0oozEyk_1cnm04Jfk1ZYS-gdjksrh1bBA9XGKcb-j5Yzm0ozVOA_UJS1grvFaRdv9cD-ilvKh3NuCNxLAgf53Oo1Ua/s320/candle+lightings.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Folk Religions have been powerful spiritual forces for a very long time. And Wicca, though it is not a true folk religion, has demonstrated striking strength. When something has been so important to human community for so long, so transformative, there must be jewels of wisdom within - Jewels we can learn from!</div>
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For instance, I think folk religions’ ability to talk about power, the connection to nature, and the ability to create ecstatic group ritual are fabulous jewels we grow from, individually, and collectively.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1y2tnZHGmxeLc6fLeLSI45YYrRUfm5rvtrqjY4XBRE2c6fesWlHcotQA3IJ9lxIT8rxmVm5kxQvgnPJgOxNCXOmri78Di4bEAjLAV4VshybSAjRzkMi04vjNcb7qKeAP3xHi/s1600/Descent-of-Inanna_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1y2tnZHGmxeLc6fLeLSI45YYrRUfm5rvtrqjY4XBRE2c6fesWlHcotQA3IJ9lxIT8rxmVm5kxQvgnPJgOxNCXOmri78Di4bEAjLAV4VshybSAjRzkMi04vjNcb7qKeAP3xHi/s320/Descent-of-Inanna_0.jpg" width="320" /></a>One practice that helps spiritual practitioners to grow and transform is candle magic. We light a candle to remember a person in Joys and Sorrows or to represent the family blessings at a wedding. We are practicing candle magic here today because we used the chalice lighting to help us focus on being here together.<br />
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Another spiritual practice is to dedicate yourself to the study of a divine aspect, like a god or goddess or mythical character. I spent a year meditating on the myth of Inanna’s pilgrimage to the underworld. I chose the Babylonian goddess Inanna as a way to recover from a very bad, horrible, no good year, when I experienced a lot of loss. The poetry, myths and rituals of Inanna losing everything and then returning (with a little help from her friends) helped me make sense of these losses and to rebuild my life and my power.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Magic has Consequences</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49WLpv-_hAgeN3OF5o5bMGBfW2f8YpOOvhwGgpSKxK4wJdFvbwLNudobhlCBazkZpj6RNRZXJEW7CP1r0G0cP61zT7XeQJbCG_lBBhR1rHxtj4dO25TYhehW8qv3z2jVlKMxo/s1600/Schrodingers+cat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="381" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49WLpv-_hAgeN3OF5o5bMGBfW2f8YpOOvhwGgpSKxK4wJdFvbwLNudobhlCBazkZpj6RNRZXJEW7CP1r0G0cP61zT7XeQJbCG_lBBhR1rHxtj4dO25TYhehW8qv3z2jVlKMxo/s200/Schrodingers+cat.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a>Let’s go back to that word Magic. The definition of Magik, among Pagans is usually: “The art of changing consciousness at will.”<br />
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One of the consequences of doing the work of magic is that it can change reality like it did for me. If Magik is the art of transforming consciousness at will, what does consciousness create? Well, Schoedinger says that consciousness creates reality. So Schroedinger’s Cat would say that Magik has consequences in reality!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1yFBQM1SNRI58TFXGaTErF6vpMKoA9Z5QJw_XvxUjBu3mgLKx50Mw7n6VBRfBh9ExsKvBePHGSIwig-HxMoNUZOfsIVIPbbMVnhoDXkfhkimFg3CpSr0wik82F4uKoPISjmb/s1600/Timbers+Fans.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="393" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1yFBQM1SNRI58TFXGaTErF6vpMKoA9Z5QJw_XvxUjBu3mgLKx50Mw7n6VBRfBh9ExsKvBePHGSIwig-HxMoNUZOfsIVIPbbMVnhoDXkfhkimFg3CpSr0wik82F4uKoPISjmb/s200/Timbers+Fans.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to be be very clear here. Ritual, prayer, candle magic, and all the rest is not putting in a request to the divine piggy bank for a specific pay-out. When I pray for world peace I’m not expecting Big Daddy in the Sky to go “POOF, OK, you got it.” When people paint themselves blue because that is their team’s colors, they are changing themselves, not actually making their sports team win. The only people who can do THAT magic trick are the players on the teams. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m asking, like Susan B. Anthony did, to pray with my feet, my hands, my voice, my life. I’m asking to change ME so that I can change the world. I'm asking, now that you know you can do magic, how will YOU change the world?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Reverend Amy helps Givers and Justice-Seekers to uncover and use their spiritual superpowers through individual mentoring, speaking, retreats, workshops and rites of passage. Learn more at <a href="http://amybeltaine.info/">http://AmyBeltaine.info</a>, or <a href="https://fdyczb-free.10to8.com/" target="_blank">Book Here</a>.</span></div>
Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-81256342074220210492018-07-28T05:00:00.000-07:002018-08-13T20:43:02.196-07:00UU or Pagan?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKT2lcpmnLaNdSC_3cGiXZKVEHg_4a3wjHu0oJ4MCdXMfwkbEPbTyixgU0HRfhjvlY4sFsvds-xCBYUU02kHzXtd92Q5BgLGC_yZRBaVrCB7c1t6QXtHb2ojkYYPpn7224p_7I/s1600/unlikelyfriends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKT2lcpmnLaNdSC_3cGiXZKVEHg_4a3wjHu0oJ4MCdXMfwkbEPbTyixgU0HRfhjvlY4sFsvds-xCBYUU02kHzXtd92Q5BgLGC_yZRBaVrCB7c1t6QXtHb2ojkYYPpn7224p_7I/s320/unlikelyfriends.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's been a month of blog posts about how UU and Pagan can and do fit together. Here's my little bit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Yesterday I took a couple of online tests. One quiz rated me theologically 100% Neo-pagan. Another quiz directed me to join a UU congregation. Yep. Exactly. UU and Pagan!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Searc</span>h</h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I spent over 20 years attempting to find or create consistent community, institutional consistency, strength, scientific and academic integrity, serious minded respect, respect for diversity and reliable structure among Pagan groups. Finding a religious home that included many of those things AND welcomed my Pagan spiritual path was sweet. I had been Gardnerian, Wiccan, Reclaiming, eclectic, Dianic... Nothing fit. UU did. That was my personal journey.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unitarian.ithaca.ny.us/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img height="179" src="https://unitarian.ithaca.ny.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/1220171925_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unitarian.ithaca.ny.us/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Solstice at Ithaca UU Fellowship</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">IthaCUUPS</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On a broader level... The Pagans of IthaCuups at my congregation in Ithaca NY were a major force in creating Pagan Pride Day. UU was the ecumenical force among the often fundamentalist subgroups of Pagans in Ithaca at the time. And the CUUPS group grew the congregation, in size and in spiritual maturity. It took some work, by the pantheists, pan-entheists, Christians, and Pagans, to help the congregation become more comfortable with spiritual topics and expressions in Ithaca. That was good work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />The Jewish congregation that met at our UU congregation's building was welcome and appreciated. If a Pagan congregation/coven/grove/blot/fill-in-the-blank had wanted to enter into the same sort of partnership I like to think they would have been welcomed. UU congregations are equipped with our principles and purposes to enter into inter-religious partnerships like that.</span><br />
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<h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuLFeXq2E6rnOeJXaoiAKt8VqeDY6wdkqBVNl9Mgp3ZvXi38CNTwXexE_wnWNaGml6NMEVkHvagdvYTrzoCIz_X4f59xVz3g6UmiRuBj9UHA0-TFOlaa_qvw7GyvhRb4jHnUm/s1600/thesecretreligion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="879" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuLFeXq2E6rnOeJXaoiAKt8VqeDY6wdkqBVNl9Mgp3ZvXi38CNTwXexE_wnWNaGml6NMEVkHvagdvYTrzoCIz_X4f59xVz3g6UmiRuBj9UHA0-TFOlaa_qvw7GyvhRb4jHnUm/s320/thesecretreligion.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">One person's dating of religions. Do not read as progression. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Can you pick out which are </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Earth-honoring/Deities-relating/Indigenous/Pagan?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Can you name some that are missing?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CUUPS</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CUUPS is for those who are UUs who feel their theology would be called Pagan or Earth-honoring/Deities-relating, or vice versa. At the annual General Assembly of UUs the Earth-honoring UUs often share booth space with the Jewish UUs, Mystic UUs, Christian UUs, Buddhist UUs..., etc. We have friendly connections with Ministry for the Earth (which emerged in many ways from CUUPS) and the UU Women and Religion group (that was closely identified with CUUPS through the 70's.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />In congregations, many Buddhist UU groups host Buddhist gatherings at their home congregations, or even Sufi-appreciating UUs invite folks to lead Dances of Universal Peace at their congregations, just as Pagan UUs host gatherings where all Pagans are welcome.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #546673; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I realize that not all congregations are fully on board with all the theologies that fit under the UU roof. Educating and developing mutually respectful relationships across faith differences is a learning edge. This is perhaps one of the greatest gifts to the world that Unitarian Universalism has to offer: Our striving, (and failing, and striving again) to move forward with an inclusive sense of Inherent worth and respect for the interconnections of life. Let us hope that congregations continue to learn and grow and that our neighbors continue to feel welcome and neighborly.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tilikum Crossing "people's bridge"<br />
downtown Portland (Chinook word for friend)</td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #546673; font-family: "source sans pro" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Portland, Oregon</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Then I moved to Portland, Oregon. I was thrilled to find most West Coast congregations embrace Earth-honoring and Pagan spirituality. I was confused by the antipathy of Pagans toward congregations of all kinds, including UU. Old wounds run deep. It is healing for indigenous and Pagan folks to experience Unitarian Universalism. No, we don't burn witches, we ask them to help with the kids and on the worship team and on the grounds team.<br /><br />The benefits to and from UUs and Pagans run both ways. Earth-honoring folks in UU congregations can help wean their congregations from such fierce adherence to the trappings of Christianity in the worship style. Future UU Pagans would love to be a part of a congregation that offered worship/ritual and study/growth. I celebrate our Christian heritage. Christian UUs find that Pagan UUs are in alignment with them on some important things. Humanist UUs discover the same thing!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #546673; font-family: "source sans pro" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
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</h3>
<h3>
Coexist</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkVU8Z95FzsCmIPtymBKLQv1iG25DjXGHysFvFgri_n0pUSzvKzvrqBdI4FWkFKB1_lV_L6uZTJzdYrlKcWJwhliLlrRWbKtieZv3wfiBePlZxf7Ki-spX_HLHYFthwXN2JS9/s1600/piechart+world+religions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkVU8Z95FzsCmIPtymBKLQv1iG25DjXGHysFvFgri_n0pUSzvKzvrqBdI4FWkFKB1_lV_L6uZTJzdYrlKcWJwhliLlrRWbKtieZv3wfiBePlZxf7Ki-spX_HLHYFthwXN2JS9/s1600/piechart+world+religions.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At about 12% of the population those of us <br />
in the "other" category need each other to survive</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">UU's aspire to tolerance, ecumenism, diversity, and respect. The world needs this desperately. UUs actively practice (and fail) and practice these things. Pagan traditions with strong belief structures or hierarchies or "ways of doing ritual" need this UU superpower too. It's a good thing when we can spread the saving practices of respect for the inherent worth of all people to other faith traditions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's this beautiful thing I've noticed happening. Now that I am deeply in this UU context, I have been expanding my understanding of what Earth-honoring paths there might be. I'm exploring which ones connect to my heart most strongly. Explorations of my own indigenous heritage(s) is exciting and full of joy. The cool thing is that the commitment to racial justice work (that came to me through my family and my congregation) has contributed to this renewal of my spiritual seeking.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think I've found a really great spiritual home. Unitarian Universalism fits this earth-honoring UU quite well!</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">N.B. IthaCUUPS folded some time around 2011. Good news though! The congregation still exists. Ithaca UUF is open to the next Earth-honoring or Pagan UUs who want to be a part of the community!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-----------</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rev. Amy travels West of the Rockies providing spiritual mentoring to helpers and justice seekers who are depleted or disconnected through preaching, worship leading, one-on-one meetings and workshops. Learn more at <a href="http://amybeltaine.info/">http://AmyBeltaine.info</a>. <a href="https://fdyczb-free.10to8.com/" target="_blank">Book Here</a>.</span><br />
<br />Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-34095417761674696852018-05-27T20:44:00.003-07:002018-06-03T22:46:01.337-07:00In Sickness and in HealthHaving pets can give you practice for having relationships with people. We have three pets. We did the thing that veterinarians tell you not to do: they are all about the same age. Two are rescues. Two are pets that became part of my life through marriage.<br />
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</h3>
<h3>
The Menagerie</h3>
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Invader Zim, the beagle, is a running-away dog. Good thing he's cute! He needed a lot of remedial training to just have the dog basics. I'm reminded of the judgmental thoughts I had about an acquaintance who had a beagle. I quickly grew tired of her calling her dog, over and over. "Derby, come! Derrrrrbyyyyyyy COME! DERBY Come!" became a bit of a joke... But it turns out that this is pretty common with beagles. They can't hear you when the nose is engaged. And the nose is OFTEN engaged! Other than filling in the holes under the fence, chasing him down the block, and bailing him out of doggie jail, he's been a soft-eared delight to live with.<br />
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Annie Cat joined our household about 5 years ago and she does an excellent job job: being soft. She helped me heal during chemotherapy by snuggling on my lap during the day and by my side at night. She will lay in wait on the foot-board of the bed, then reach out and put her paws around your neck as you pass so that you'll pick her up for a cuddle. (In the photo to the left, you see that Annie likes soft things. She found the comforter that was on its way from the dryer to the bed and decided it made a good cat bed.)<br />
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Isabella Dona Pugellini, the pug, is super smart, and is very much an elder dog. My spouse enjoyed teaching her lots of tricks and showing off her obedience and agility skills. Now she's stone deaf and nearly blind. We are very grateful that knows hand signs so we can still communicate with her a bit. She is bossy, inquisitive, and spreads garbage around the house if it isn't locked down. Our household shared custody of her until the last couple years so I never really developed a relationship with her, but she's a member of the family, so she gets my loving care just like the others.<br />
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</h3>
<h3>
Clean Floors</h3>
They are aging. Slowly we've been adjusting our living around their needs. Getting garbage pails with lids and putting bricks at the bottom edge of the fencing worked when they were younger. Now our geriatric pets need more accommodations. Baby gates prevent accidents in areas of the house that are hard to clean up. The mop is kept handy. We have invested in doggie diapers and specialty enzyme cleansers. Ironically, the floors are cleaner now than ever because they get mopped sometimes twice a day. They are let out into the back yard frequently, and the pug needs to be rescued when she gets lost around a corner. The already inattentive beagle has started to go deaf so he has to be watched carefully or hooked to a line. Medication refills keep them moving and a special ramp helps the pug get in the house.<br />
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</h3>
<h3>
Aurgh</h3>
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Sometimes I am frustrated. Sometimes I hear the voice inside that is at its wits end saying: "when they die we won't have to be embarrassed to have people over, we won't be cleaning so often, we won't be spending so much on meds..." When that happens I know I'm moving too quickly. The beings we commit to (whether they are furry family or human family) deserve our care through both health and sickness. They did their job, and paid into their "social security." It will be our responsibility to help our pets move out of life when it is time, and we'll be faced with the impossible responsibility to determine when that time is. Until then, it is our responsibility to give them a safe life, free from want.<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Everything I learned</h3>
Just like pets, people come with hardships and messiness and complications. We don't get to shop for the perfect family members, but we can learn how to deal with that messiness by looking at how we deal with our pets.<br />
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<a href="https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/04/squirrels-animals-cpr-wildlife-rescues/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="858" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXbMK2-pcZD2DL0nJlssLl9MEdTq-VS03vQ32AzmCKVDxpW6W98BriKFghEyWadROsvSlKjevJvyjPbpsT3WrpKzq5szQRG_9TF-yu75WglXwDhO7L288ukC47XRVCZElTUWQ/s320/baby-squirrel-with-injured-leg-big.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Our pets, our children, and all our loved ones depend on us. The relationship between dogs and humans evolved many thousands of years ago and now we rely on them as they rely on us. This is also true not only with families but in society. The fact that we have the ability to care for them, and that they cannot survive without us, morally obligates us to pay attention to how we care for them. All of them! We, as a community, are responsible for the strays and the lost, those who have been displaced or abused, and those who are neglected or broken.<br />
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Facebook and Youtube videos of kindness to animals - wild animals and pets, injured animals, homeless animals, and disabled animals - abound. They get shared and "liked" and they seem to make people feel good. It is good to be reminded that we humans can act on compassion.<br />
<br />
We can learn from them.<br />
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We can learn that displaced human children deserve just as much compassion as a baby squirrel.<br />
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We can learn that disabled people deserve just as much compassion and accessibility as a cat.<br />
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<a href="https://goo.gl/images/FQPxVU" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjee-WLAX1iFnseI3JgZMjNXPqwp_mEqsgLBzax7cVscEoK6hffFoSGdHNgmxZQvokTmEWuFMbWpHoMdyoqZ8R3TtNZ2_Pzql0eRMoT8GTkUNSvt2k0tXmGtAhk9jh1Uh2mssnj/s320/human+chain.jpg" width="320" /></a>We can learn that we can feel good about saving the life of a person living on the street just like we can feel good about saving the life of a dog that has gotten into danger.<br />
<br />
Having pets can give you practice for having relationships with people. It feels really good to make a difference in another life. May we each find the lives that we will bless. We have much to give, and there is much need out there.Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-90132006339319118452018-05-13T05:00:00.000-07:002018-05-17T23:16:58.660-07:00Spiritual Growth through "Moon Forest Bone"<br />
Moon*Forest*Bone Wisdom- for healers, givers, and change-makers. who are adrift and yearning to conspire with divine love to learn and live your gifts.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqWlIUjy8UFW07Uum9hFICdd_b9qhPfgRlMA3Xsb1D0Qw5fmQZ6eaVARgC8BEvDK_WwhCKGa3IHRZ4wofbUraF2sa5dxjctuvb5CBhaSf2wpPAJNhhY9XosLvimjexcaBK35S/s1600/nasaDOTgov+earthrise+from+moon.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqWlIUjy8UFW07Uum9hFICdd_b9qhPfgRlMA3Xsb1D0Qw5fmQZ6eaVARgC8BEvDK_WwhCKGa3IHRZ4wofbUraF2sa5dxjctuvb5CBhaSf2wpPAJNhhY9XosLvimjexcaBK35S/s200/nasaDOTgov+earthrise+from+moon.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/lro-earthrise-2015" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/<br />goddard/lro-earthrise-2015</span></a></td></tr>
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<h3>
Moon</h3>
Our Spiritual Development emerges from our relationship with the celestial, because the tides affect us all, the majesty of the Sun and Moon and Stars inspire us and the mystery of the universe gives us humility and wisdom. Deities move between, among, around and through us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFj0apre2gLLIjVLdSC_wetxrFp1nQSTBZIquY_Qfc80aqdpSbgOpyGaQ022KD0QfK6zHKIpIogRQIbeIadr9OKx4sad5wvlg0aZ3XzEzgWRWFfqJHJJrTx_0rbjEYfz5dje-/s1600/2014-10-24_1414176063.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFj0apre2gLLIjVLdSC_wetxrFp1nQSTBZIquY_Qfc80aqdpSbgOpyGaQ022KD0QfK6zHKIpIogRQIbeIadr9OKx4sad5wvlg0aZ3XzEzgWRWFfqJHJJrTx_0rbjEYfz5dje-/s200/2014-10-24_1414176063.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by @OregonGirlRebecca</td></tr>
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<h3>
Forest</h3>
Our Spiritual Development emerges from our relationship with the place we occupy because we are each a tree, drawing nourishment from the earth and giving the fruit of our living, our gifts. Because the forest we are in forms us and supports us and is our tribe. The wisdom of the land we are rooted in fills us and the wisdom of the people around us creates us. Indeed, your relationship with the place where you are planted is sacred.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9uACAugkirYPkQNVecbWXj3XcoPKuVSPo25ewcIhcIuiU7PdnVk3M8F8giNvd7fsU4aK7uLyQ6ftskJW8fU7i17W03bNJoUiXqzGBBRx1q05AzMXL8mE5zLffd7_FKLGQPvI/s1600/stonehenge+bones.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="1006" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9uACAugkirYPkQNVecbWXj3XcoPKuVSPo25ewcIhcIuiU7PdnVk3M8F8giNvd7fsU4aK7uLyQ6ftskJW8fU7i17W03bNJoUiXqzGBBRx1q05AzMXL8mE5zLffd7_FKLGQPvI/s320/stonehenge+bones.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<h3>
Bone</h3>
Our Spiritual Development emerges from our relationship with our identity because we have wisdom in our bones and bodies, wisdom that comes from our biological heritage, our family, our ancestors of body, culture and and spirit. We grow from the wisdom passed down to use from teachers of many traditions.<br />
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Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-84568113715642357392018-05-05T05:00:00.000-07:002018-05-07T01:25:43.377-07:00Lusty May<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h3>
Lusty May</h3>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-70xRHhmqmdw/WujXih1uP8I/AAAAAAAAET4/ctV-zuZJJ9g55Mg2yvkwlAbPR_j41I3NACEwYBhgL/s1600/Labor-day-OG.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="1000" height="153" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-70xRHhmqmdw/WujXih1uP8I/AAAAAAAAET4/ctV-zuZJJ9g55Mg2yvkwlAbPR_j41I3NACEwYBhgL/s320/Labor-day-OG.png" width="320" /></a></div>
On the calendar the lusty month of May begins with May Day, In Slavic countries it begins with Green Week. Astronomically the midpoint between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice is around May 5. And all around the world May begins with International Worker's day.<br />
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A day and a week of celebrating Spring, emerging growth, fertility, love and joy. And a day, throughout the world, of acknowledging the labor of the workers: International Worker's Day. A time to recommit to our community and our solidarity…to promote the legal establishment of safe and fair working conditions, and to act for a world of love and justice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZDrJViMBzYRAgP23tpaSbeEzIzdiBGsmUoWWsKabJaWu7KEIDTJQ0vxsjj_AyBbURr2gpV-rdtckO5kQU2Gax2CDZuJCIOTCs3XXEpmI4Fr3TCK2d7EGBiiW07Ucr8X3CdEF/s1600/may-day-baskets-gift-baskets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="236" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZDrJViMBzYRAgP23tpaSbeEzIzdiBGsmUoWWsKabJaWu7KEIDTJQ0vxsjj_AyBbURr2gpV-rdtckO5kQU2Gax2CDZuJCIOTCs3XXEpmI4Fr3TCK2d7EGBiiW07Ucr8X3CdEF/s200/may-day-baskets-gift-baskets.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
The worker day and the flower day, occur on the same date and even though they are different, we can celebrate them together: a celebration of the renewal of spring and a celebration of the work we all do, and the people who labor. We celebrate renewal of the self and soul so that we can enter into the work with new energy. We glorify our work, “whistle while we work,” let our lives be songs, and do the work that must be done.<br />
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Appreciating the work that the land does to create food and shelter and beauty to sustain all that lives need not be separate from appreciating the work that the people do to create food and shelter and beauty to care for the earth and the people on it.<br />
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<h3>
My May Heritage</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsr_9cfW7kfK3VFExX1JphX6ilDLxtk0cZQJhezjS8oyeMIaOg1slQVY1kszBV0Giiw2TfGBfnlxpsrMjJ_Cs8X_CjOuqM4C8T6Vili14JMiFz7EeptdB3AXRz46UuvF7RAX_/s1600/Love+has+no+labels_credit_Brian-Emerson-1024x964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="964" data-original-width="1024" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsr_9cfW7kfK3VFExX1JphX6ilDLxtk0cZQJhezjS8oyeMIaOg1slQVY1kszBV0Giiw2TfGBfnlxpsrMjJ_Cs8X_CjOuqM4C8T6Vili14JMiFz7EeptdB3AXRz46UuvF7RAX_/s320/Love+has+no+labels_credit_Brian-Emerson-1024x964.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Love has no Labels" credit Brian Emerson</td></tr>
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In my pre-Christian Celtic, Norse, Gaulish, and Slovak cultures May Day was all about the joy of young love and human sensuality and sexuality. It is written that in Great Britain, France, and parts of the American colonies on the first day of May young men and women would go out into the fields to celebrate spring with acts of love and pleasure. In so doing, they would bless the crops, and be blessed with fertility by the land.<br />
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This tradition has continued in some areas as a sort of day-of-rule-breaking. That fits the tradition well. The immigrant Americans of the early 1600’s who celebrated with may dances and costumes were the hippies of their day. They wanted peace with their Native American neighbors, not war. And they weren’t interested in the uptight rules followed by their puritan neighbors. The most famous group settled in merrymount, which is quincy MA now. The stories of that settlement make great reading!<br />
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<h3>
Morena and Vesna</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morena doll</td></tr>
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In Slovakia girls of the village carry a straw effigy of the goddess of death and winter: Morena, to a local stream. To banish winter they set it on fire and throw it in a defrosting stream. This symbolises the end of winter and the arrival of spring, the end of the domain of the death Goddess and the beginning of the love goddess: Vesna.<br />
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Lots of cultures burn straw figures to banish something. I've personally attended many rituals that included burning slips of paper. We first would write something we wanted to get rid of on the piece of paper, and then we'd each throw our paper into the fire.<br />
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May was traditionally called the month of love in Slovakia. In this period, a maypole tree was the most important of all plants. The maypole was usually a spruce without bark, whose top the boys had decorated with coloured ribbons. On Mayday, people still erect maypoles, usually on the square or in the middle of the village. In the past young boys erected maypoles for young girls whom they wished to court, or all young boys erected a maypole in honour of all young girls in the village. Throughout Europe, the May Pole has been one common way to celebrate May Day for centuries.<br />
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In Scottish Gaelic, Latha Bealtainn (pronounced "laah Bahl-tinnuh”) or “Beltane” is celebrated at the beginning of the month of May. Bel-Tinne was a time for blessing livestock. Great bonfires were lit and the cattle were driven between them from the winter pasture to the freedom of the summer pastures.<br />
<h3>
Fire and Dancing</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0OpWLeOoSbYfxhE6HO13jt-HnsPGfsc5SwoqqZxdQFY1rvXG7mh5dcCq2q9n23j5bxI9F4-o4Ew3lox73HsIG4AGemLhQiS-2xid1dQSqIsTCvxMYZqeyVje0DACstTqWLOz/s1600/Slovak+Green+Week+Fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0OpWLeOoSbYfxhE6HO13jt-HnsPGfsc5SwoqqZxdQFY1rvXG7mh5dcCq2q9n23j5bxI9F4-o4Ew3lox73HsIG4AGemLhQiS-2xid1dQSqIsTCvxMYZqeyVje0DACstTqWLOz/s320/Slovak+Green+Week+Fire.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slovak Green Week, Fire Leaping</td></tr>
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Jumping over the fire is a custom that existed in all parts of Europe and its purpose was to ensure fertility as well as to protect people and cattle from evil forces. The fires, the maypole, Jack-in-the-Green parades, May Baskets and crowning of the May Queen are Beltane/May customs that survive today in the United Kingdom and have been embraced by many Neo-Pagans around the world; celebrating Spring, purifying and ensuring fertility.<br />
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These celebrations are snatching life out of the jaws of death. When we lose someone we want to hold those who we love even closer. When we come to the other side of pain or privation we want to dance and sing. Even when we are still just barely defrosting from hardship, fear or sadness, we want to light a fire, to remind us of what warm and joyful feels like! And always, we need community.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj91RvQ2Rpi1Z_oYNLw4PD0WXAjiimpa8tQlM-dvvLReyUwf7Y6aHfjzkHt6LeLiwDS1D4TJ54H2yoQVl3TFaLh4eCBuny17TGOTSL-6jtY6xXceUzda5tDoDGoTQ3QkZ51yn5/s1600/Slovak+Walking+with+the+Queen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="806" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj91RvQ2Rpi1Z_oYNLw4PD0WXAjiimpa8tQlM-dvvLReyUwf7Y6aHfjzkHt6LeLiwDS1D4TJ54H2yoQVl3TFaLh4eCBuny17TGOTSL-6jtY6xXceUzda5tDoDGoTQ3QkZ51yn5/s320/Slovak+Walking+with+the+Queen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slovak, Walking with the Copse/Queen</td></tr>
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I went through this daily when I was a chaplain at a hospital. After a day of visiting with the sick and dying, fearful and despairing, I’d stop by the new babies window and smile at the sweetness of new life. Those babies cast a magic spell that conjured renewal so I could return and give again.<br />
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Slovakia has their own version of May Day baskets. It’s called Walking with the Queen. pine branches, twigs or even entire small trees– adorned with ribbons, handmade ornaments, egg shells or flowers – are carried from house to house. The copse is usually carried by girls, who walk from house to house, dance, sing and extend best wishes to the hosts. In this ritual they are casting a spell, or conjuring up blessings and relationships in the community.<br />
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These rituals announce the coming of spring, a time of joy and song, a time when the Earth bears new fruit. And they connect the community.
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<h3>
Lust as Thirst</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAe2WP8AMczwC4ajJ222zu9g3Db3MVIgKC-TOsxHxBbxTkSLxKrUh7aZ2xCzH7bWoT9cXXNdLVDTTARFit0Cnkm62aGXeJgJgVP8XYZ9mgNQwyV_tbEi0mzPzlt3LIAScW-_Nr/s1600/Hug+the+Earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAe2WP8AMczwC4ajJ222zu9g3Db3MVIgKC-TOsxHxBbxTkSLxKrUh7aZ2xCzH7bWoT9cXXNdLVDTTARFit0Cnkm62aGXeJgJgVP8XYZ9mgNQwyV_tbEi0mzPzlt3LIAScW-_Nr/s320/Hug+the+Earth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The lust of May is a lust for life, a thirst for life, a love for life. This thirst to live fully and joyfully, and this love of living things, is what gets me up in the morning willing to do the work I must do.<br />
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The love we have for our own children, our friends, our pets, and the land where we live motivates us to care for them. We as humans, universally, feel responsibility for the whole web of life.<br />
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The workers in U.S. factories of the turn of the century reached across their different languages and cultures to fight together because they didn’t want their children, or their neighbors’ children to have to labor in dangerous factories.<br />
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International Workers Day, or Labor Day was initially called for at the international Socialist Congress in Amsterdam in 1904. They called for demonstrations to push for the legal establishment of the 8 hour day, for the class demands of the proletariat, and for universal peace. and they instructed all workers to stop work on the first of May. - to take a holiday.<br />
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<h3>
Let’s celebrate May Day</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CG-Sz9GGWHciDNJpiwwQHCCdKEYqWXYIuMTa-f5c2rfCubA31EpufJZXMurHtEN_ISb-Llxw9Zs6WcsQonFatT70d6tv5T7y8cn4Chb8BrUue_sGgm_wM9ICERXW8nvHwcb9/s1600/MayWorks-Bread-and-Roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="469" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CG-Sz9GGWHciDNJpiwwQHCCdKEYqWXYIuMTa-f5c2rfCubA31EpufJZXMurHtEN_ISb-Llxw9Zs6WcsQonFatT70d6tv5T7y8cn4Chb8BrUue_sGgm_wM9ICERXW8nvHwcb9/s320/MayWorks-Bread-and-Roses.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From MayWorks</td></tr>
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One of the chants used by strikers and demonstrators of that time was “Give us bread AND Roses”. They wanted both bread (wages) and roses (time for the activities that nourished the mind and soul.) They knew that time for community, for story, for joy was just as important as the time for work.<br />
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Let us remember that, particularly now. Let us hold back the tide that is sweeping away the protections that so many worked so hard to get. We need one another to make it. We need renewal, community, joy, and roses.<br />
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Let's celebrate May Day by bringing one another bread AND roses.Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-74495610320525310142018-04-29T05:00:00.000-07:002018-08-30T14:37:38.505-07:00May Day Goddesses<h3>
Spring Goddesses</h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Freya, Artwork by Kris Waldherr</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Love of life, a lust for life, is beautifully symbolized by Spring/Fertility Deities all over the world. Unsurprisingly, most of them are women.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">What did the Spring Deities do for the folks who celebrated and worked with and studied with them?</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">There are LOTS of answers to this question but I've got three favorites:</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Story: moral tales and lessons. Telling a story about a fertility God or Goddess changes emotion and belief so much more effectively than saying "Be proud of how you look" or "You don't need to be ashamed of your sexuality"</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Practicing Presence: Acknowledging the changing of the seasons, tuning in to the world around you. being present to what is true now and what could be. a sense of companionship when all human companions are absent. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Community connections: coming together for feast days and rituals that strengthen the bonds of community.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<h3>
Finding your Spring Deity
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a7QuybxjJck/WuVsZvV6YqI/AAAAAAAAESA/SgICvry7_g8zOIjYcH5N4e6DhZGXjWdTACLcBGAs/s1600/Vesna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="236" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a7QuybxjJck/WuVsZvV6YqI/AAAAAAAAESA/SgICvry7_g8zOIjYcH5N4e6DhZGXjWdTACLcBGAs/s320/Vesna.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vesna: Art courtesy of </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/189721910/original-painting-vesna?ref=listing-15" style="text-decoration-line: none;">JankaLart on etsy</a></span></td></tr>
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So, who is your lust-for-life deity? What stories can give you insight and what practices can give you self awareness, agency, and build community<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Bone Forest Moon</span> </h3>
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">I use the structure of "Moon/Forest/Bone" to define my relationship with the sacred.</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Bone: What images of the divine, what stories and mysteries and lessons, what beliefs and practices have been (or SHOULD have been) passed down to me through my tribe, ancestors, and family?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Forest: What does the place where I am ask of me? Knowing that holyness and divinity often comes from direct experience of a place, what has relating to the divine looked like in this place in the past?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Moon: What universal human truths and experiences are available to me to work with? What is the cosmic view in which the earth is a blue marble floating in space and the scientific view that seeks to find ways to describe and relate to reality that hold up across many experimenters, many experience-ers.</span></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lU3uUyfyF1M/WuVsxOnn0JI/AAAAAAAAESI/AicKOwf2fbcMafvAfQA1xeeUgZMo-BdGQCLcBGAs/s1600/Flora-Roman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="962" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lU3uUyfyF1M/WuVsxOnn0JI/AAAAAAAAESI/AicKOwf2fbcMafvAfQA1xeeUgZMo-BdGQCLcBGAs/s320/Flora-Roman.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flora (Spring), from the villa of Varano in Stabiae</td></tr>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">I can tell you about my Spring Deities. I invite you to find who or what might be yours.</span></span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Bone</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">This includes the deities my father's Slovak mother would have known if she hadn't been brought to the U.S. so young. Vesna for the first breaking of Spring and Lada for the fertility, love and warmth of Summer. There are also the deities of my mother's French/Gaulish and Scottish ancestors and my father's English ancestors. Artio from Gaul, Celtic Olwen, and depending on which historical period of the British Isles you want to focus on, Freya from the Anglo-Saxons or Flora from the Romans. your heritage might lead you to Oshun: The Yoruba Orisha of rivers and beauty and sensuality, Or Ishtar from the ancient near east and Sumeria, Kono-Hana-Sakuya-Hime from the far east. or Atabey, the Taino Goddess from the Caribbean.<br />heritage isnt the only place to seek for symbol and sacred meaning, you can also open your awareness to the here and now.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: small;">Forest</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHRYIM1hyphenhyphenJDJfocSX32hxzWeFKbMUOPiNz9aGeyeWis5hD2PoTBZiwFwlriSno6fWiCWlb56VGov95T1JJpfHKQu63O-_aiMC6dCkZyS2app5Wei-A79DBhY8SfydLhFciPX3/s1600/Gaulish+Muri_statuette_group_-_Artio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHRYIM1hyphenhyphenJDJfocSX32hxzWeFKbMUOPiNz9aGeyeWis5hD2PoTBZiwFwlriSno6fWiCWlb56VGov95T1JJpfHKQu63O-_aiMC6dCkZyS2app5Wei-A79DBhY8SfydLhFciPX3/s1600/Gaulish+Muri_statuette_group_-_Artio.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gaulish Muri Statuette: Artio</td></tr>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">I live in the green Willamette valley at the confluence of two great rivers. Spring begins with flowers in March and by May we have planted our gardens and are cleaning up from the muddy month of April. My deities of place are Mount Hood, known as Wy’east, the Willamette river, and the hazelnut trees. Take a moment to reflect on the sacred places and things right here.<br /><br />Then you can also seek among the Universal.These images of the most holy will resonate across place and time and culture.</span></span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: small;">Moon</span></span></span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_INzt-jtnqSDuaGl0eqV9Asd7YPJCMVFQmBVT51nSFDc2PHByZbVoKhs0U7dE843JY9-ATPVHodl57w7P1aqMHI2mBXIvJoNGgqKgKdKMmzgAheeBqmh0H3igU6Y4m526Jaj/s1600/Kono-Hana-Sakuya-Hime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="597" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_INzt-jtnqSDuaGl0eqV9Asd7YPJCMVFQmBVT51nSFDc2PHByZbVoKhs0U7dE843JY9-ATPVHodl57w7P1aqMHI2mBXIvJoNGgqKgKdKMmzgAheeBqmh0H3igU6Y4m526Jaj/s320/Kono-Hana-Sakuya-Hime.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kano-Hana-Sakuya-Hime</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The cycle of the earth around the sun, the tilt of the earth, the changes of the temperature and day length... All these things are experienced by human beings in all parts of the planet. The experience of falling in love, of birth, of losing and regaining health are all experiences shared by human beings everywhere. My deities of the cosmos are Love, Birth, and Joy. They are the Sun and Heat and Fire. You might share some of mine or have a few others that especially resonate for you.<br />
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Reverend Amy invites you to find your own spiritual direction through a relationship with the sacred in the domain of Bone, Forest or Moon.Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-90027080166927013162018-04-22T20:17:00.002-07:002018-04-22T20:17:26.711-07:00Earth Day 2018<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkY_2qBlj5SpbVGjYmieD-sditC4OAbWwj20cDDtM0ZoIJLx3S9iqsM6nL7-81U5lMRszirOF1d7l1zkumKNJoUxpZgFQbPv2a9buMVUNdXhw-MOS-7Eor-CymLTNY4MXvB9HT/s1600/7th+principle+Ian+and+kimberly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1017" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkY_2qBlj5SpbVGjYmieD-sditC4OAbWwj20cDDtM0ZoIJLx3S9iqsM6nL7-81U5lMRszirOF1d7l1zkumKNJoUxpZgFQbPv2a9buMVUNdXhw-MOS-7Eor-CymLTNY4MXvB9HT/s320/7th+principle+Ian+and+kimberly.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Concept: Ian Ridell, Art: Kimberly Debus</td></tr>
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<h3>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-e6f3d083-f06f-1cf5-4a34-869cbdc4cce7"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seventh Principle of Unitarian Universalism</span></span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjeRD6iJPkS776T__yE6Dajs_C5pNmuCGCrjYCtcnJqRbiEZVG91PUJycHIgqZ6guNdUBUUMFx83qBaz0TmyHoW2_MehoB7FMvdjaE-05OJxzGnEOt8o6L-G4EVt5yz6XjiXJX/s1600/Gaia+by+Mare+Cromwell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="679" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjeRD6iJPkS776T__yE6Dajs_C5pNmuCGCrjYCtcnJqRbiEZVG91PUJycHIgqZ6guNdUBUUMFx83qBaz0TmyHoW2_MehoB7FMvdjaE-05OJxzGnEOt8o6L-G4EVt5yz6XjiXJX/s320/Gaia+by+Mare+Cromwell.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art by Mare Cromwell</td></tr>
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RESPECT FOR THE INTERDEPENDENT WEB OF ALL EXISTENCE OF WHICH WE ARE A PART<br />
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What did you do today that connected you to the earth? <br />
What did you do today that you can point to and say: “That was the seventh principle at work in me”? <br />
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<h3>
Gaia</h3>
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When I think of my relationship with the earth I think of Gaia. Gaia is the Greek word for the goddess who is the earth, but what I’m talking about is Gaia as the idea, put forth in the 70’s, that the entire ecosystem of earth is one being. A being that is made up of rock and plant and animal. A being that breathes and lives. And we humans are a part of that being. <br />
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Process theology tells us that everything is made up of many other things. And that all of these things aren’t even things, they are processes. The planet is a collection of many processes, just as each person is a collection of many processes. And there is really not much distinction between the process that is one of my cells and the process that is the earth or even the solar system. We are all containers of many other things. The chalice of the earth contains us, just as we contain myriad forms of life. The earth is a green growing container, a chalice, if you will. And so are each one of us.<br />
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Have you seen the video going around the internet that is narrated by Julia Roberts? The visual is fly-bys of these spectacular places on our planet: orange and brown desert canyon; frothy white jungle waterfall framed in deep green; stark pale blue arctic ice floe in endless sea… In it Julia is the voice of Gaia, and Gaia is reminding us that she has existed before us, and will exist after us. She doesn’t much care if humans make ourselves extinct. She doesn’t need us. She is so much bigger, so much more, than an earth lifeboat for humans. We need her. <br />
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This can come as a bit of a shock. Or it can help us to feel our dependence, and our connection, with the natural world. Indeed, our oneness with the natural world and all that makes up the earth.<br />
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<h3>
Viriditas</h3>
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The other concept I think of when thinking of our relationship to our earth lifeboat is the idea of viriditas. That idea that the divine is the greening life-five was articulated by Hildegard von Bingen. “Hildegard of Bingen”, also known as "Saint Hildegard" and "the Sibyl of the Rhine" lived from 1098, to 1179, in Germany. She was a Benedictine abbess, writer, composer, philosopher, mystic, and visionary who wrote theological, botanical, and medicinal texts, as well as letters, liturgical songs, and poems. She is considered to be the founder of scientific natural history in Germany.<br />
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A cornerstone of Hildegard's spirituality was Viriditas, or greening power, her revelation of the animating life force manifest in the natural world that infuses all creation with moisture and vitality. To her, the divine was manifest in every leaf and blade of grass. Just as a ray of sunlight is the sun, Hildegard believed that a flower or a stone was God, though not the whole of God. Hildegard celebrated the sacred in nature, something highly relevant for us in this age of climate change and the destruction of natural habitats. - The definition of viriditas or "greenness" is an earthly expression of the heavenly in an integrity that unites dualisms.<br />
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<h3>
Mandalas</h3>
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One of Hildegard’s spiritual practices was to draw her visions. We, in this modern world, call them mandalas. Just like the mandalas created in India and Tibet, her mandalas were visual patterns that represent the cosmos metaphysically, spiritually, or symbolically. <br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Et2xq7iy25U/Wt1QLnSzoqI/AAAAAAAAEQ0/w-xSmzTK7rUx1hXr_QPYeHfmOJFyP_kTwCLcBGAs/s1600/Willendorf%2Bwith%2Bearth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="215" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Et2xq7iy25U/Wt1QLnSzoqI/AAAAAAAAEQ0/w-xSmzTK7rUx1hXr_QPYeHfmOJFyP_kTwCLcBGAs/s320/Willendorf%2Bwith%2Bearth.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
When you truly believe in and value your relationship with the earth, or God (and for Hildegard those were the same) you act on your spiritual connection. The Church of her era was rife with corruption and sexual misconduct. While many men held back from protesting, fearing the repercussions, Hildegard decided that she would take on the mantle of reformer. Although St. Paul had forbidden women to preach, Hildegard embarked on four preaching tours in which she delivered apocalyptic sermons to her male superiors, warning them that if they did not mend their ways, they would fall from grace and be toppled from their seats of power. <br />
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Nor did Hildegard enjoy a quiet retirement. She took in and nursed a man who had run away from fighting in the crusades, and when he died she buried him in the churchyard. It is hard for us UUs to imagine, but giving this Christian burial to someone who rejected the command to fight in the crusades didn’t sit well with the powers-that-be and she and her nuns were collectively excommunicated. The excommunication was only lifted a few months before Hildegard's death in 1179.</div>
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<h3>
Acting on Your Spiritual Direction</h3>
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Hildegard didn’t just pray with words. She lived her belief that every person was sacred, that her love of Viriditas must be expressed, that the church, her communities, and yes, the whole world was worth her time and energy, risk, and commitment. What does your relationship with the earth, or the divine ask of you? We need to listen to our heart songs, our earth songs, the voice of viriditas, the sacred, and we each need to find our own spiritual direction, a direction that lives our love for our world.<br />
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Hildegard speaks for God, saying: "I, the fiery life of divine essence, am aflame beyond the beauty of the meadows, I gleam in the waters, and I burn in the sun, moon and stars ... I awaken everything to life." -- Hildegard von Bingen, Liber Divinorum (Book of Divine Works)</div>
Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-809979441696453382018-04-15T21:25:00.000-07:002018-04-15T23:26:49.507-07:00Planning Programming for your Community?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PoUaM9sD7rs/WtQcLsDnt-I/AAAAAAAAENg/iISvb9ZZqdE9Xrr2Zi_bBHv6Ao48UeaYACLcBGAs/s1600/Amy%2BSun%2BSalute%2Bopen%2Blong%2Bshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PoUaM9sD7rs/WtQcLsDnt-I/AAAAAAAAENg/iISvb9ZZqdE9Xrr2Zi_bBHv6Ao48UeaYACLcBGAs/s320/Amy%2BSun%2BSalute%2Bopen%2Blong%2Bshot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Planning programming for the coming year? Here's three reasons you want me to visit your civic group, religious community, meditation or study group, grove, or coven.</span></b></i><br />
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<h3>
Message</h3>
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We can each find our soul's way to create love and justice. We are faced with a shrill political atmosphere, painful despair about our environment, and suffering, loss of rights and dislocation of values. We need the reminder that each of us is a gift, what we do matters, and there is merciful nourishment available to us.<br />
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<h3>
Earth-relating Spirituality</h3>
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Help your community with exploring gifts of Moon, Forest, and Bone: cosmic and scientific truths, insights from interaction with your place on this earth, and knowledge from heritage and personal experience. Strengthen the Earth-relating gifts already present among the community. I bring the joy of myth and the arts of song, storytelling, imagery, and ritual.<br />
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<h3>
Praise</h3>
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How does it work?</h3>
West of the Rockies, I bring my own housing. I am available on site for several days for retreats, workshops, preaching, presentations, and individual or small group appointments.<br />
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I have an extensive catalog arranged by theme or by liturgical year. I invite your Programming, Worship, and Adult Ed teams to browse for what resonates! amybeltaine.info<br />
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Honorarium: Worship service or 20 minute-1 hour Presentation: $250 (+$50 for a repeat the same day) Learning experience: One hour ($150), Half-day ($350), full day ($550) Alternatively: $20 per person per hour. $25 at the door. Housing: West of Rockies - Hospitality of your parking lot or a congregant's driveway for our little house. East of Rockies - home hospitality welcome. Travel: IRS rate from my last location. (negotiable) CUUPS consultations are free (travel/housing waived if already on site)<br />
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Who?</h3>
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Rev. Amy Beltine, Spiritual Mentor: Inviting those who feel adrift to learn and live your gift. As a Spiritual Director, Amy witnesses the way for givers and justice seekers who dread getting out of bed to find their soil to root and thrive in, and their fruit to offer. Meetings are over Skype and in person using Physio-divina (Tarot, body prayer, etc.) She visits communities West of the Rockies offering presentations, retreats, and Sunday Services such as "Green Chalice", "Inanna Journey" and "Sacred Fool." Amy served as the president of continental CUUPS (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans) and is on the steering committee of UU Spiritual Directors' Network. Learn more at http://lAmyBeltaine.info.<br />
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Did you know?</h3>
I also offer Spiritual Accompaniment: helping people learn and live their soul's way.Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-57729153965368276842018-03-26T22:40:00.000-07:002018-04-03T13:40:54.202-07:00Way-Finding and Physiodivina - The Fool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Fools Day and Happy Easter!</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This year Easter falls on the same day as April 1, also known as Fool's Day. I've been watching the conversation among the minister's I'm friended with on Facebook as they explore ways to address this odd combination. I'm not sure I see a big challenge. <a href="https://www.firstparishnorwell.org/sermons/trickster.html" target="_blank">The way that Jesus taught involved commentary in the Stoic tradition which were designed to puzzle the listener and challenge them to think differently about something. </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This opportunity to look at life through fresh eyes is a function of the fool. <a href="https://www.religionnews.com/2015/01/28/theologian-says-jesus-trickster-not-offensive-think/" target="_blank">The return of Jesus from the dead is both deeply meaningful in the vein of renewal, faith, new growth, and hope and a bit of a "fooled you!" joke on his followers</a>. Again, not incompatible with the lessons imparted by the sacred fool. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I posted last year about many kinds of sacred fools in cultures throughout history and how they can provide wisdom and help to us now. Right now I'd like to delve specifically into the concept of the fool as represented in phsyiodivina: objects such as runes, Tarot cards, and the natural world that invite us into wisdom from the divine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The First Fool</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The oldest recognizable Tarot cards are the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visconti-Sforza_tarot_deck">Visconti-Sforza </a>deck. The "miser" or "poor man" card is the first card in the "trump" cards. Trump cards evolved from pageants and parades in medieval times. These parades included people dressed as popular concepts of the time and often represented a series of life conditions or the challenges of a hero's journey. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The cards that evolved from that community pageantry begin with the fool card. The fool card carries many meanings and is depicted many ways in the decks that emerged after that first one. The sense of the person who has nothing but the (minimal) clothes on their back is often a part of the meaning of the card. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The hero's journey begins, ultimately, when we are born, and at birth we own nothing and have little idea what will unfold in our lives. Pure potential, innocence, and surprise... Over the years the idea of the fool or the beginning of the journey has been depicted various way by various artists.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Court Jester</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Renaissance images of the fool card in the Tarot, from France, depict the court jester. This fool was responsible for speaking truth to power and keeping the ruler he served honest. Sometimes I wish that there was an official court jester at work in American politics. Perhaps comedians such as Stephen Colbert and Samantha Bee are the modern Jester. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During this period the Tarot was used as playing cards (the modern playing card deck began to be used.) and the traveling Roma began to offer divination services that included use of the Tarot.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KbU3ICwJq56ctdztfvr3JPRjKCebgewcTkK7wFaMQnwmSVLluY3ilO65YyWTMqS62HHlssTGG0-4_XqlXuvwjTGGrVLO8bzwHpswl6REcg2_qnk-WXcH-Lia05pAHtIOSvAL/s1600/IMG_6341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="989" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KbU3ICwJq56ctdztfvr3JPRjKCebgewcTkK7wFaMQnwmSVLluY3ilO65YyWTMqS62HHlssTGG0-4_XqlXuvwjTGGrVLO8bzwHpswl6REcg2_qnk-WXcH-Lia05pAHtIOSvAL/s320/IMG_6341.JPG" width="197" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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The Golden Youth</h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the 40s and 50s individuals and organizations in England doing research into occult and symbol systems developed Tarot decks. The most well known decks are the Rider-Waite and the Thoth deck</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s. The Rider-Waite deck was adopted by many as a definitive interpretation and in a way it stalled creativity with the images used in Tarot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Perhaps this codification by members of the Order of the Golden Dawn is where the ideas of Tarot being related with devil worship got started. Some of these people were engaging in what they called witchcraft or kabbalah or other practices that were frowned on by the church. </span><br />
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"Book of Thoth" by <br />
Aleister Crowley and</div>
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Lady Frieda Harris</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For me that doesn't invalidate the interesting things they did with symbolism. The poor jester became a young person with no possessions about to step off a cliff. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The fool as a leap of faith is a great metaphor for every person who is about the embark on a new venture. We have hope and trust, and we move out into a new landscape. Often we select certain items to take with us that we think will help for the projects ahead, sometimes we feel woefully unprepared. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm reminded of the photo of my niece on her first day of grade school. She has a brave smile, a small backpack and is about to embark on a new adventure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rune of Self</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The rune "Mannaz" from proto-Germanic old anglo-saxon means "man" or "humankind." The rune represents the self and self awareness. When working with this rune you are advised to know yourself and be aware of your place in the world. You are also advised to look to your relationship with the divine: the divine within and the divine as encountered in the world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mannaz resonates with the fool concept: we come into this world naked and without tools or knowledge. We just have our selves, alone. We carry this self as the most important tool for the journey. I am reminded of the wisdom that 'you are sacred, you are a blessing to this world when you are born. You only need to exist to be of worth.' You do not need to do anything more than "be." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Revival and Renewal</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAj5dLjpZ2a98CpSd4G4DxHhs5pOskZewqP7LPDtqvEKS9uA1tanjwqyB0HVOgngD8Sm-76sMjPBAL35jgGBEv33W9AhmzWoqftpU_KWE9rvCIDGYPbJB1TceRfokm8Vpab3YY/s1600/IMG_6329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1006" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAj5dLjpZ2a98CpSd4G4DxHhs5pOskZewqP7LPDtqvEKS9uA1tanjwqyB0HVOgngD8Sm-76sMjPBAL35jgGBEv33W9AhmzWoqftpU_KWE9rvCIDGYPbJB1TceRfokm8Vpab3YY/s320/IMG_6329.JPG" width="201" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The late 60's and 70's saw an explosion of people working in interesting ways with archetypal images and mythological symbols. Tarot was re-imagined and artistically played with to reflect feminist, new age, Jungian, and other new ways of understanding the world and our selves. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2QnREeUSoND-osoPP7QUfKbj_RqR_bfDUpIjvwHWB4yYTHtfP6pAxNSFuNWnAzCnBSpGNOiuzIQmHoPNCXz9uuZ5UJluV_A-qhQky4RuMs8NcQ45VLsOilbWS36xZ0qbVwMn/s1600/IMG_6327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="890" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2QnREeUSoND-osoPP7QUfKbj_RqR_bfDUpIjvwHWB4yYTHtfP6pAxNSFuNWnAzCnBSpGNOiuzIQmHoPNCXz9uuZ5UJluV_A-qhQky4RuMs8NcQ45VLsOilbWS36xZ0qbVwMn/s320/IMG_6327.JPG" width="178" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Interpretation of the symbols on cards broke away from the old Rider-Waite depictions and meanings. Psychedelic cards and esoteric cards competed with animal cards and angel cards.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The idea of using the Tarot for personal psychological and spiritual exploration became more common. Though many who describe themselves as psychics did Tarot readings as a part of their psychic readings, there was a new understanding of how we, as human beings, respond to imagery with insight and even transformation. You don't have to be psychic to find meanings in the images and stories contained in the cards, just like you don't have to be psychic to find meanings from a Rorschach inkblot test. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This time of renewal in society, of openness and transformation was a sort of "fools" time. Experimentation, hope, trust, and adventure were the rule of the day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Feminist Fool</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ndIzR2I60nCFwXBuj_-SpdeLb55pdUXeSEDSu32TnCSp5_raq7adLuG-i3WoSv6QjRbP_QHZTJ_XH-RSj-cwNOTgtvlfhAGEgNYg_Zvj6lDJyCWSopXmbOEquHoYHl1vTxjn/s1600/IMG_6325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="993" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ndIzR2I60nCFwXBuj_-SpdeLb55pdUXeSEDSu32TnCSp5_raq7adLuG-i3WoSv6QjRbP_QHZTJ_XH-RSj-cwNOTgtvlfhAGEgNYg_Zvj6lDJyCWSopXmbOEquHoYHl1vTxjn/s320/IMG_6325.JPG" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thea's Tarot (Papercuts)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTPuqUJESL9p83OG4h-hxw3gFjqJ5zvp3R07mlbCVMoI6eucSITlIjFep4iDOuDldy_GTTAeJbgk8vi7U42PQYoHA_ftjSFgYdXOTb7Ip3WQxFdRKghG0YyADBSORz1a5rzaE/s1600/IMG_6334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1019" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTPuqUJESL9p83OG4h-hxw3gFjqJ5zvp3R07mlbCVMoI6eucSITlIjFep4iDOuDldy_GTTAeJbgk8vi7U42PQYoHA_ftjSFgYdXOTb7Ip3WQxFdRKghG0YyADBSORz1a5rzaE/s320/IMG_6334.JPG" width="203" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The New Amazon Tarot</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As people became more focused on personal development in the 80s Tarot became one of many tools used by gurus, self help advisers, therapists, and supportive friends. At the same time, more creative decks continued to be developed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the 80's I was coming out as a Lesbian, discovering the long history of women's community and encountering the divine feminine. Tarot cards helped me to more deeply explore the wisdom available from spiritual teachers and traditions that had been suppressed by centuries of patriarchal hegemony. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnIW3wSqfALgWmc0anjmVT_WAq_BnUjOoziZq5zBqR-EHZvjbiZJUOoMaXjc3hEjgG1d64nISC82eSrfXw61JQoc9L8i0s8gB-5I51y8veJ82ExR51LoldRiNQeU6gl72Ybe_/s1600/IMG_6344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1583" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnIW3wSqfALgWmc0anjmVT_WAq_BnUjOoziZq5zBqR-EHZvjbiZJUOoMaXjc3hEjgG1d64nISC82eSrfXw61JQoc9L8i0s8gB-5I51y8veJ82ExR51LoldRiNQeU6gl72Ybe_/s320/IMG_6344.JPG" width="315" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not only did these decks re-imagine ways of presenting evocative images, but they even changed the shape of the cards. Round cards allow the interpreter to imagine more nuance in a reading. My favorite interpretation of the "Fool" card is "Trusting OnesElf" which is a wonderful play on words. Trust, trusting your self, and trusting the playfulness within are all great interpretations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Mother Peace deck's fool card emphasizes this playfulness and trust. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The fool card invites us to trust the divine and surrender to the flow of our lives. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF6Z76scO5yATqQekCQsnyPvAlrzLcU0d3N0_dttYcd3TNjDMfTl_lergW3BUdxx0vofMO0esyIhZVOCj96GVqgFMvWLwokCciing8siUE-mqN0yFrVTVTWYh5vjm321RnQsI/s1600/IMG_6331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1596" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF6Z76scO5yATqQekCQsnyPvAlrzLcU0d3N0_dttYcd3TNjDMfTl_lergW3BUdxx0vofMO0esyIhZVOCj96GVqgFMvWLwokCciing8siUE-mqN0yFrVTVTWYh5vjm321RnQsI/s320/IMG_6331.JPG" width="319" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Fool's Year</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are many times when my life went through a "fool" period. One year my grandmother died, my spouse asked or a divorce, my eyesight almost failed, I lost my job, I graduated from grad school, my mom was diagnosed with cancer, and I moved across the country. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The fool cards from all my Tarot decks provided me with help to make sense of the many things I had no control over. I felt like I had stepped off a cliff (maybe, pushed?) and was just amazed that I was still there after months of feeling like I was in free-fall. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The only way I got through it was by surrendering to the events around me and continuing to bring my full self to the joyful and the painful changes in my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nature</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5N4TqcJxKVA6ZMy8mtsk2Hjdr9W8pWNLcH3ODoeBoocZ1Sauw8sE78immXDV4BLToYGSCguvXkiHgpmMo6wqitrfyOJjKahfr0gFIpfxmjzniLjjlWv9u6yWu-nnTsimtrZR/s1600/IMG_6343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1129" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5N4TqcJxKVA6ZMy8mtsk2Hjdr9W8pWNLcH3ODoeBoocZ1Sauw8sE78immXDV4BLToYGSCguvXkiHgpmMo6wqitrfyOJjKahfr0gFIpfxmjzniLjjlWv9u6yWu-nnTsimtrZR/s200/IMG_6343.JPG" width="140" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rumi Card</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoCGg5cNsr87DQo8zOz8wMC1emQCQtqHcJyeSoM8T7BruJh1up3RfA6Ub8EXmY3UGLJfi1of4pCVr7ykqtwNRtKrZRANYDujLZIG5KfO2vsPgzMlQAaLxeMkj_FVL_7_wJHIs/s1600/IMG_6330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="995" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoCGg5cNsr87DQo8zOz8wMC1emQCQtqHcJyeSoM8T7BruJh1up3RfA6Ub8EXmY3UGLJfi1of4pCVr7ykqtwNRtKrZRANYDujLZIG5KfO2vsPgzMlQAaLxeMkj_FVL_7_wJHIs/s200/IMG_6330.JPG" width="124" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goddess Card</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I move through the world there are many things that also teach me the lessons of the fool. My soft-eared beagle, cajoling me for a treat by being silly and cute is a manifestation of the trickster God. The tiny bird in the bush outside the window, braving the coastal storm is a representation of surrender to what is. The polar bears remind me that each thing is sacred, just because it is what it is. The young people leading #BlackLivesMatter and #NeverAgain movements show me what stepping off of a cliff to follow a dream looks like. They inspire me to do the same. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I find my way by living it, I look to myths, symbols, images, and stories to help me stay nourished, in flow, and connected to the sacred. Physiodivina helps me. How are you in a time of the fool? And what can the fool offer to you right now?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">---------------</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reverend Amy helps those who feel adrift, or dread getting out of bed, to learn and live their gifts. Learn how Amy can help you find your way at <a href="http://amybeltaine.info/">amybeltaine.info</a>.</span><br />
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Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-77847282459984953602018-03-18T05:00:00.000-07:002018-03-23T21:55:42.489-07:00Ostara: The Vernal Equinox<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgtfOo3xB9GSwZzRq2hS4sSVy47DzEUqM_SvnZdmeKbYVqy07i7qmgJCXA-fe721WvKhY-333gEwcxgfEF5ZIPfougIpMqg5M_zTHweJrWO8j9L-h6RJ48gZikN3y9_LUWbzw/s1600/Balanced_eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="1277" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgtfOo3xB9GSwZzRq2hS4sSVy47DzEUqM_SvnZdmeKbYVqy07i7qmgJCXA-fe721WvKhY-333gEwcxgfEF5ZIPfougIpMqg5M_zTHweJrWO8j9L-h6RJ48gZikN3y9_LUWbzw/s320/Balanced_eggs.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Folklore connects egg balancing to </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">the </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">lunar new year in China, </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">the Dragon Boat Festival<br /> in Taiwan </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">and vernal equinox in the US. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Egg balancing can be done throughout the year</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What do Carl Sagan, Merlin, and the March Hare have in common? What can the egg balancing trick teach us about living in this world?<br /><br />"Ahhhh, Spring: a heart lifting in hope and a shoe squishy with mud."<br /><br />On St. Patrick’s day I think about the wisdom contributions of Celtic people. One of the most famous Celtic sages was the Welsh wizard, Merlin.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNuL-6Hssg566SS_td8uA8h1-gl42d91X6gw8Z-7qcGdcegaSq2Gs-mWhIrQteNVtdMKdB1HTOAnxouWlQ7UoiZ9yqu_erywlqYl9DTnEgyBRk-nsXfWtOGJPbK3mOB0nddM0/s1600/book+of+merlyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNuL-6Hssg566SS_td8uA8h1-gl42d91X6gw8Z-7qcGdcegaSq2Gs-mWhIrQteNVtdMKdB1HTOAnxouWlQ7UoiZ9yqu_erywlqYl9DTnEgyBRk-nsXfWtOGJPbK3mOB0nddM0/s200/book+of+merlyn.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During WW I, T.H. White, an English author and Naturalist living in Ireland decided that war is one of the worst evils human beings visit upon one another. He wrote “The Once and Future King”, the story of King Arthur. In the book the bumbling wizard named Merlyn advises the young Arthur and teaches him about using strength and wisdom in service to peace.<br /><br />Merlyn turns Arthur into an ant, and then into a goose. As an ant he experiences life in the totalitarian state, obeying orders. As a goose he feels the wind in his face and the mud under his webbed feet. He feels the camraderie of the whole flock flying together. Merlyn is teaching him ethics, and politics. He learns that structure is important but so is freedom. Both/and.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>The Vernal Equinox</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgad3yG3e1AsGJIw5iU00guTWHQ_hGKS-Auyz-HLeu3gFRjDTRF7OI0iADO1uEFCxaBWh8jglvCpL29i114zsqqYV0-SH9BAeAiDHvw78E3EvEFr02-9Shhb-s9CmlybQmOPqN1/s1600/burroughs+meme+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgad3yG3e1AsGJIw5iU00guTWHQ_hGKS-Auyz-HLeu3gFRjDTRF7OI0iADO1uEFCxaBWh8jglvCpL29i114zsqqYV0-SH9BAeAiDHvw78E3EvEFr02-9Shhb-s9CmlybQmOPqN1/s1600/burroughs+meme+2.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are creatures of the land we live on. All during the short days of winter our rational minds know that the sun will return. But there is something deeper that despairs, yearns, and suffers in the dark. At its worst it is diagnosed as Seasonal Affective Disorder. It’s cure: the return of the sun. Our climate, the land we live on, tempers the way we think of what is holy. It determines, even in cities, many of our habits and rituals. The natural cycles are in us.<br /><br />March 21 is the Vernal Equinox. The mid-point between Winter and Summer, and the official first day of spring. This is the time of the emergence of green. We are tipping over, from the fallow death of winter into the exuberant spring. This is a time when we see the holy in nature. As Hildegard of Bingen said: “God is Rich and Green and Juicy!”</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXdhlYa1iRs38mbx-6KTjZ6QdHNegUZStKIf_XhpE4REvNF9IIke8d8hwvhuOT0fFxwW_p81xTp4B-AllWaIXMWvCHH_ye0PfxOZk1BJQcOt-jxWf5hF_E059c7ffCrc34ej6/s1600/beagle+in+the+grass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXdhlYa1iRs38mbx-6KTjZ6QdHNegUZStKIf_XhpE4REvNF9IIke8d8hwvhuOT0fFxwW_p81xTp4B-AllWaIXMWvCHH_ye0PfxOZk1BJQcOt-jxWf5hF_E059c7ffCrc34ej6/s320/beagle+in+the+grass.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Hawthorne Post</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />In New York, each year when the cold snow had ended and the first gentle spring rain began to fall, I would set down my computer and run out into the street. I’d breath in the fresh scent. FEEL the warm rain. And LAUGH! This spring I’m watching my beagle roll in the grass, four paws waving in the air, with a grin on his face. And I find myself transfixed by the sun on the camellia buds and the tiny green leaves just emerging from the plum tree branches that just a day ago looked dead.</span>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Ostara</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmf1bwzBaqyFlJ6gAywfJc6pZ3UyoN9GccgatAF5EWF6Kei0t1OYj_pJZZWax9MlNDoxCHg3DrTlN-mJMDsJGGVIMtOQLrZlFm8zC0onlfljH0qZYTv4kbPe7gYM4i-xtP6ryK/s1600/The+March+Hare.+Illustration+by+John+Tenniel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmf1bwzBaqyFlJ6gAywfJc6pZ3UyoN9GccgatAF5EWF6Kei0t1OYj_pJZZWax9MlNDoxCHg3DrTlN-mJMDsJGGVIMtOQLrZlFm8zC0onlfljH0qZYTv4kbPe7gYM4i-xtP6ryK/s200/The+March+Hare.+Illustration+by+John+Tenniel.jpg" width="147" /></a></td></tr>
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The March Hare. </div>
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Illustration by John Tenniel</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Throughout history we gratefully celebrate Earth's annual resurrection. Spring equinox is a time for joy, fertility and</span><a href="http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/ostaracrafts/ss/MiniGreenHouse.htm" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> sowing seeds</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. In medieval societies in Europe, the March Hare was a fertility symbol -- this is a rabbit that is usually nocturnal, but in March when mating season begins, there are bunnies everywhere all day long. As if that wasn't enough, the males tend to get frustrated when rebuffed by their mates, so they bounce and run around like mad.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb99AYTFYUVBXjwZVSl2gKSBlmlg09ep5YDeSIDb4c1PZpTlqlS-RCJ5idDzt3QZeJ0KrpSewMBW9RzrO7-33ttZBZgYduGvB-CSl1bbjsvdZVMzTcQRwqCUbpFw8oStuLFoes/s1600/Ostara_by_Johannes_Gehrts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="477" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb99AYTFYUVBXjwZVSl2gKSBlmlg09ep5YDeSIDb4c1PZpTlqlS-RCJ5idDzt3QZeJ0KrpSewMBW9RzrO7-33ttZBZgYduGvB-CSl1bbjsvdZVMzTcQRwqCUbpFw8oStuLFoes/s320/Ostara_by_Johannes_Gehrts.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ostara (1884) by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Gehrts">Johannes Gehrts</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many modern Pagans use the word Ostara for the celebration of the spring equinox. Ostara is from the name of a Germanic goddess. Eostre was the goddess of the land, and farm, so she was celebrated as the days became longer, the chickens began laying eggs, and the cows started giving more milk. The depictions of Eostre are like the European paintings of maiden Spring. She’s a joyous woman, with flowers in her hair, carrying a basket of eggs and a bunny rabbit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />It‘s no surprise to find that the bunny brings Easter baskets full of eggs for children! It is no surprise the Christian resurrection story takes place in March or April and in the Jewish faith,<a href="http://judaism.about.com/od/passover/Passover.htm"> Passover</a> takes place as well. Passover, the celebration of the gift of life in the midst of horror and death. This is the season to celebrate the victory of life over death</span>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Resurrection</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Martin Luther noticed the connection: “<a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/martinluth386916.html">Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.</a>” Each tree, bush, and plant that looked dead all winter, has completed its hero’s journey and returns to the land of the living. Indeed, the whole earth is re-emerging from the harrowing adventure of winter.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ8sO-DJIchZKOHoIu8bT17y_LmkfBuR6Zl6DRoeEvwZPim7t1NXBpmjBVmVVXSX1vkRTyj3HqWsiaXkEOkwSWCnt2KTM4sevYpbAnI2LGUgD4OGRLxiQ-yuzTHH0_RhbuUVL/s1600/Tajik_girls_on_holiday_Navruz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="1000" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ8sO-DJIchZKOHoIu8bT17y_LmkfBuR6Zl6DRoeEvwZPim7t1NXBpmjBVmVVXSX1vkRTyj3HqWsiaXkEOkwSWCnt2KTM4sevYpbAnI2LGUgD4OGRLxiQ-yuzTHH0_RhbuUVL/s320/Tajik_girls_on_holiday_Navruz.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tajikistani Girls celebrating Novruz with wheatgrass sprouts</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All over the world, people are celebrating the transformation into spring. Naw-Rúz is an ancient Persian and modern Bahai festival which occurs on March 21st. It is celebrated with many symbols indicating re-growth and renewal. The purpose is to celebrate the messages that spiritual teachers, such as Mohamed and Jesus, proclaim. Messages which bring us spiritual springtime. Some celebrations of Naw-Ruz include floating new sprouts of plants down a stream and doing Spring cleaning</span>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZKxlikPSteyFVNmyj0jhL1oa_gTjswlxgRUn91KgILMyBIaivXMrMECNCAdrH96NEnJAEdS4ZhDUt2id1qAWZ5ZLLugXQmhv0a5lRC8sJdpZ9Yq2_V5-hPTBsjbAMEl8uvIL/s1600/burroughs+meme+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZKxlikPSteyFVNmyj0jhL1oa_gTjswlxgRUn91KgILMyBIaivXMrMECNCAdrH96NEnJAEdS4ZhDUt2id1qAWZ5ZLLugXQmhv0a5lRC8sJdpZ9Yq2_V5-hPTBsjbAMEl8uvIL/s1600/burroughs+meme+1.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Merlin and the earth-based traditions advise us to look to nature and the behavior of the wild creatures for insights into our own nature. How we can become our best selves. I hear that same message from those who look UP, beyond our earth as well.<br /><br />Earth and sky. Both/And.<br /><br />Neil Degrasse Tyson says “We are all connected, to each other biologically, to the earth chemically, to the Universe atomically.”<br /><br />And Carl Sagen: "The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there's little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides.”<br /><br />Beauty and love on the one hand, death on the other, skepticism on one side, openness on the other: an exquisite balance.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBHLTqntAxrppiY0tJqUHpLN6nVKxtWQfUkYFjn-UJltaSYURoCFRaI7jkssbbGvdVj5PMWl6pptJG851EfhUhv6o3rzJu0ytuaUsoRmxK8pk3Jdlq7u4MvNNT0HIGb9fdIbD/s1600/Pysanki+Luba+Petrusha+%2528me%2529+2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBHLTqntAxrppiY0tJqUHpLN6nVKxtWQfUkYFjn-UJltaSYURoCFRaI7jkssbbGvdVj5PMWl6pptJG851EfhUhv6o3rzJu0ytuaUsoRmxK8pk3Jdlq7u4MvNNT0HIGb9fdIbD/s320/Pysanki+Luba+Petrusha+%2528me%2529+2006.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Kraslica is the art, in Slovakia, of painting eggs,</div>
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more commonly known by the Ukrainian name:</div>
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Pysanki. In memory of my Slovak grandma.</div>
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Photo by Luba Petrusha</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Translated literally,<a href="http://www.infoplease.com/id/CE017160.html"> equinox</a> means "equal night." It is an astronomical term. Equal day and equal night. Both/And. We can’t have one without the other.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I imagine my grandparents on their farm in Upstate NY. Checking the root cellar and seeing that the jars and boxes of precious food are depleted… worrying. Checking the seeds stored and waiting… ready to plant to grow more food: the end, and the beginning, both together. Those seeds came from the death of the plants. Life can only return after the descent into death: Life and death. These opposites are both present at this time of year. Both/And.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Balance and Harmony</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0THfjJBTUh8j2CacqZp7dOTxsCiHBobKMQ8h7yOTeSs5NQhrhZnFTzhB56gcDzQYNyz1zd1TmzqUwQHDoxf-2yyHHsi_WztWnwp31DPYv8qcnt9PXYagYlGRAe8wn9FHmiaYd/s1600/bradstreet+meme+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0THfjJBTUh8j2CacqZp7dOTxsCiHBobKMQ8h7yOTeSs5NQhrhZnFTzhB56gcDzQYNyz1zd1TmzqUwQHDoxf-2yyHHsi_WztWnwp31DPYv8qcnt9PXYagYlGRAe8wn9FHmiaYd/s1600/bradstreet+meme+1.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If we practiced this embrace of both/and, perhaps things that seem to be irreconcilable could co-exist with one another. We would appreciate the value each side brings. Western and Eastern healing modalities, both Muslim and Christian wisdom, both activists and mystics, both Black kids facing death and proclaiming #blacklivesmatter and White kids putting shoes on the capital lawn to represent those killed in school shootings... both/and. <br /><br />Taking up both/and as a spiritual practice means taking the time to pay attention to how our lives are in or out of balance. It means paying attention to what is present and what is absent. It means welcoming the fallow time, and then welcoming the green growing times as well.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAHL1xDXqHs1v0HDJqKhvOsqxf5Mw327ofVpYJvLQH7DTfzr_2tl1Lw35R3G8R8YQiyKjm7zT1OWen8OGIiwX2RNQ-HP6v2YblOockX_TcQ57wzuWu_wi11LosbM14fTL4WwF/s1600/Ecliptic_path.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAHL1xDXqHs1v0HDJqKhvOsqxf5Mw327ofVpYJvLQH7DTfzr_2tl1Lw35R3G8R8YQiyKjm7zT1OWen8OGIiwX2RNQ-HP6v2YblOockX_TcQ57wzuWu_wi11LosbM14fTL4WwF/s320/Ecliptic_path.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Tau%CA%BBolunga">Tauʻolunga</a> - Own work</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I invite you to breathe with me. Breath deep.<br /><br />Feel the polarities in this moment – Earth as our home is poised in relationship with the Sun. Feel for your own embrace of day-light and night-dark within, your own balance of old and new – this fertile dynamic of tensions. Both/And. Reach out and wrap your arms around it.<br /><br />Release your breath into it. Breathe in the light, swell with it. Breath out. Let your breath go into the dark, stay with it. Shift on your seat, from left to right, forward, back, feel your centre…breathe it in.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhav2HOimkxVLv7fecRfWVahL2YXTZZ9MB4K66ufTA8ArbQZnB9AkOLUJwwvFYgOkr1nuLE0CNWxxNq1adCpyMmRB73hRSVBHvhW7Ew36232WNpbNZCqydcCTmd8VFBsKAMIx/s1600/Celebration_stage_of_1st_day%252C_Spring_%2528Pohela_Falgun%2529_at_Faculty_of_Fine_arts%252C_University_of_Dhaka%252C_13_February%252C_2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhav2HOimkxVLv7fecRfWVahL2YXTZZ9MB4K66ufTA8ArbQZnB9AkOLUJwwvFYgOkr1nuLE0CNWxxNq1adCpyMmRB73hRSVBHvhW7Ew36232WNpbNZCqydcCTmd8VFBsKAMIx/s320/Celebration_stage_of_1st_day%252C_Spring_%2528Pohela_Falgun%2529_at_Faculty_of_Fine_arts%252C_University_of_Dhaka%252C_13_February%252C_2014.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st day of Falgun in Bangladesh Photo by <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Ibrahim_Husain_Meraj">Ibrahim Husain Meraj</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In my part of the Earth, the cycle is about to tip into new growth, into the light. In the southern hemisphere the same balancing moment is about the tip toward dark. Feel the shift within you, see in your mind’s eye the energy ahead, the light expanding and contracting. Feel the warmth of it. Breathe it in.<br /><br />Ahhhh. Spring: a heart full of hope and a shoe full of mud.<br /><br />Come, Yet again, Come!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">--</span><br />
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Blessed be.</div>
Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-53641556328223288362018-03-11T05:00:00.000-07:002018-03-23T21:56:55.191-07:00Visiting the Goddess Temple North of Las Vegas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mj9IlrNkzhU/Wpz_tHW_jNI/AAAAAAAAECA/FP8Lrgr7GEgdpSxcTxvmez4RpRJVk7vIgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Amy%2BSun%2BSalute%2Bopen%2Blong%2Bshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mj9IlrNkzhU/Wpz_tHW_jNI/AAAAAAAAECA/FP8Lrgr7GEgdpSxcTxvmez4RpRJVk7vIgCEwYBhgL/s320/Amy%2BSun%2BSalute%2Bopen%2Blong%2Bshot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Every year we travel around the South Western United States. I preach each Sunday at a different UU congregation, offering retreats, and meeting with folks for Spiritual mentoring. This year we took a side trip to visit the Temple to Sekmet North of Las Vegas, NV.<br />
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I will share a bit in other blog posts about the visit to Sedona, Grand Canyon, San Xavier Du Bac, and other locations in this 2018 trip, this post is about Sekmet and golden hour in the Nevada desert.<br />
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You can learn about the founding, funding, staffing, and story of this temple from <a href="https://sekhmettemple.com/" target="_blank">their web site</a>.<br />
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Hawthorne and I drove up mid-afternoon on a late January day. It was breezy and low 70's. The sun was out (Yay! Sun! That's part of why we were down there... it will be GREY back home in the Pacific "NorthWet" until late Spring.)<br />
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Despite careful directions shared by the caretaker and priestess over the phone, we almost missed the exit. The temple is close to the Missile Test Site and Creech Air Force Base. Like Seneca Women's Encampment near the Upstate NY Seneca Army Depot, I expected a theme of defiance and opposition. I was happily disappointed! The Temple is not existing in opposition to the military. My sense is that though the peace of the land is a contrast, it is not defined by the military base and former missile test site near it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKImwHjTDXBUbIDcDmZSGrYJ6cVHdFV6Qxs4_k-LU7-Y9lUJnb0Jo9c3iEDo0DS8jWp1izzTMRWFI5JtotXievoPIKFxVsd2ydBbaVoWAeoDJ7v2Povk3MwSxT9fT2XktFvZZ/s1600/IMAG1131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKImwHjTDXBUbIDcDmZSGrYJ6cVHdFV6Qxs4_k-LU7-Y9lUJnb0Jo9c3iEDo0DS8jWp1izzTMRWFI5JtotXievoPIKFxVsd2ydBbaVoWAeoDJ7v2Povk3MwSxT9fT2XktFvZZ/s320/IMAG1131.jpg" width="180" /></a>We entered from the parking lot by the residences. Small house. Small trailer. RV with hookups... Cats! Right away a beautiful black cat came out to visit with Hawthorne. We were missing our kitty back in Portland. It took me a while to connect the obvious... Sekmet is a CAT Goddess. LOL How appropriate.<br />
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This site is well taken care of. It is the desert so the colors and landscape are a little strange to my forest-adapted Oregon-eyes. The caretakers were clearly giving it love: no trash, little signs of tending along the paths and in little shrines.<br />
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The grounds are minimally accessible to people who are mobility impaired. The desert actually helps in that respect, here in the Pacific Northwest mud and fallen trees are constant sources of obstacles.<br />
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The outdoor conference area looked well appointed and inviting for mild Fall-Spring days. And then the path wound around another corner.<br />
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A painting of Sekmet on the side of a shed was brightly lit by the lowering sun. </div>
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Up the hill, a cob structure with interesting features invited us forward.</div>
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Inside the Goddess is represented by Sekmet, the Madonna, an Earth Mother and other smaller myriad goddess images. The ground was tiled with flagstone and colored rock and glass beads.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8hJXFle-K2LgA_zoTwnOMWAHSIe3QiuVq8hk1rY-mvcV1PvOobO9YKu20xPO4lChJL3i-DZBirXjbiHiw216ThPN6bKZhEqmJ6SxBlbWhzoMr3YEmeP_DzRTGCGmT2eMyZ2n/s1600/Goddess+Temple+Firering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8hJXFle-K2LgA_zoTwnOMWAHSIe3QiuVq8hk1rY-mvcV1PvOobO9YKu20xPO4lChJL3i-DZBirXjbiHiw216ThPN6bKZhEqmJ6SxBlbWhzoMr3YEmeP_DzRTGCGmT2eMyZ2n/s320/Goddess+Temple+Firering.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Inside, a fire circle is ready for rituals. <span style="text-align: start;">Each stretch of chain protecting the fire circle represented a phase of the moon. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLKgq_eBpVeGDLr7e0K7j8AmrTC4yqIpCJ5YhxM9VeNQbh9bstZyw3JO8gRwh-_MXgxQFFzMNGbz2a92HzwPE0w8_6_wuMu-zBRezjJ1rzOmRDPVxTiCafSz0Ax8N7ssS_847/s1600/Madonna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLKgq_eBpVeGDLr7e0K7j8AmrTC4yqIpCJ5YhxM9VeNQbh9bstZyw3JO8gRwh-_MXgxQFFzMNGbz2a92HzwPE0w8_6_wuMu-zBRezjJ1rzOmRDPVxTiCafSz0Ax8N7ssS_847/s320/Madonna.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">The Madonna was present in many variations and meditation pillows abound. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGWfeJrMAzuR8dWYpr_JTKel12hCamYsAGdZQJkaptOeMmiz3M99Mhvn1bUYSvUAGxSfyGeNk-QzES8pnuNjHz-d8gVUQM0eyTASaeE9bzDR23EZl094bKxRBILigAF3V_0Rb/s1600/Amy+Kneel+goddess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGWfeJrMAzuR8dWYpr_JTKel12hCamYsAGdZQJkaptOeMmiz3M99Mhvn1bUYSvUAGxSfyGeNk-QzES8pnuNjHz-d8gVUQM0eyTASaeE9bzDR23EZl094bKxRBILigAF3V_0Rb/s320/Amy+Kneel+goddess.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Standing inside the temple, reflecting on the earth goddess statue, I shifted from idle curiosity to a sense of deep appreciation and reverence. Peace moved through me and I paced slowly, meditatively around the fire pit enjoying the glitter of the stones and the details of the goddess figurines and statues. Incense invited me to move deeper into the experience and I lit some and knelt before the earth goddess receiving the opportunity to feel at one with the cosmos.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTV_cb_aOMPJ8tBePyHxQtnrs08-wxu1Cpjg_EBRzp-fZmcVqN5g16R-XXY6v5w3piVq-SzNEGE-hryVlqpmtQDXV3L9c6LPzGsSFy1t3OETV7MtKYXsKu0hnaDq8SIAeNilF/s1600/Amy+Namaste.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTV_cb_aOMPJ8tBePyHxQtnrs08-wxu1Cpjg_EBRzp-fZmcVqN5g16R-XXY6v5w3piVq-SzNEGE-hryVlqpmtQDXV3L9c6LPzGsSFy1t3OETV7MtKYXsKu0hnaDq8SIAeNilF/s320/Amy+Namaste.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Another devotee approached and I put out the incense, drew some symbols I find sacred on the stone, and left the structure to face the sun. Time for the sun salute!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ENQo-glt5CkxW44CmRofMTE-w-gbV8r-JwmTNncwDnNbysbUK5SoRvT8urhMtOj8A50B2MHshmqM8AcHliPu9z2Gv9Qk4KiWcr5FlhY9kUxOPbkvwlGEDqLJKN5ctlapaXvz/s1600/IMG_5654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ENQo-glt5CkxW44CmRofMTE-w-gbV8r-JwmTNncwDnNbysbUK5SoRvT8urhMtOj8A50B2MHshmqM8AcHliPu9z2Gv9Qk4KiWcr5FlhY9kUxOPbkvwlGEDqLJKN5ctlapaXvz/s320/IMG_5654.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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While the new arrivals got to work watering plants and neatening the space, I moved along the trail to enjoy a slow stroll through the labyrinth. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNBxFzcnpqIP8aPE0ygpLw0uZHsMP87lJWYd3JDnxOk8FlHuaQyFNcfxGod081n6_vhkVvt_sxd7swnMh5VszPTMBxOvEdaySWcpAozhW1d_Ajjh6vd5rKNZbMTRKr-QI1auh/s1600/IMG_5676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNBxFzcnpqIP8aPE0ygpLw0uZHsMP87lJWYd3JDnxOk8FlHuaQyFNcfxGod081n6_vhkVvt_sxd7swnMh5VszPTMBxOvEdaySWcpAozhW1d_Ajjh6vd5rKNZbMTRKr-QI1auh/s320/IMG_5676.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT09E6XKgR2XNW5gRnBRrLyd2uUVfVXhfRY6GnnjE6ee3EtTiqWFSp-Me7qG3OZtZq2hHAi-0ZiJ0QhGsxb7MnRIRvncZMN8vcj6pJtMljiKKbnn70896CPpG2juNhmLMEHU0h/s1600/IMG_5691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT09E6XKgR2XNW5gRnBRrLyd2uUVfVXhfRY6GnnjE6ee3EtTiqWFSp-Me7qG3OZtZq2hHAi-0ZiJ0QhGsxb7MnRIRvncZMN8vcj6pJtMljiKKbnn70896CPpG2juNhmLMEHU0h/s320/IMG_5691.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then, Oh! Delightful: a collection of shrines to the fairies and nature spirits!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HPtX64n05pqL2AszFiH4ZFQ-6hDwVLzDCiyCnXMpPeq1NcthaQkk0MRc2zjge0FO3ISLP3fsqWBPJa0TS-GO9Z-ldGRrP6pNY05ZMsr5E5RLvnl3WRXUp-DaWSglpDcYBi_H/s1600/Goddess+Temple+Council.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HPtX64n05pqL2AszFiH4ZFQ-6hDwVLzDCiyCnXMpPeq1NcthaQkk0MRc2zjge0FO3ISLP3fsqWBPJa0TS-GO9Z-ldGRrP6pNY05ZMsr5E5RLvnl3WRXUp-DaWSglpDcYBi_H/s320/Goddess+Temple+Council.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Also on the grounds we saw a small performance area and a council circle. </span></div>
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Parking near the temple was ample for large gatherings. Next time we are in Las Vegas we'll check to see if anything is planned and make a point to join with others to commune with the land and the peace and healing of the Goddess energy. Thank you Sekmet and the Priestesses of the Goddess Temple!<br />
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Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27330041.post-45753893505287392412018-03-04T05:00:00.000-08:002018-03-04T23:35:00.271-08:00The Courage of Queen Esther - Purim Service<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ozeAslkkoMY" width="459"></iframe><br />
Purim for 2018 was February 28-March 1.Reverend Amy Beltainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05447307346554279324noreply@blogger.com0