News from Amy August is over. Here in southern Portugal days have been close to 100F and the plants are estivating (New word I just learned! Means when plants pause due to heat and lack of water.) I watered the garden daily to keep them alive and now I welcome the cooler days of September when they will turn green and vibrant. Already kids are going back to school in some areas and other families are taking one last vacation. Whether you are obsessively following American politics, pausing through the heated atmosphere, or watering yourself with what you thirst for in hope to be renewed for fall...I invite you to explore your dreams and gifts.

Breathing Spells If you found the weekly Consolation emails supportive, consider signing up for Breathing Spells. These short meditations and guided experiences are offered weekly to support your spiritual well-being.

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Become a Spiritual Care Professional Applications NOW being accepted for the Spiritual Direction Certification training cohort at Cherry Hill Seminary, which starts March 2025!

Do people seek you out for spiritual companionship and support? Are you a spiritual care provider looking to expand what you offer? Honor your calling by becoming credentialed in spiritual direction at Cherry Hill Seminary. 2-year program Intentionally affordable Cohort based virtual community Grounded in earth-relating traditions Diverse teachers bring Pagan, Indigenous, Catholic, Sufi, Animist, neuro-diverse, gender-fabulous, and more wisdom Submit your application by February 15, 2025. You are whole, holy, and worthy. Deepen and grow as a human, expand and clarify your faith formation, and level up as a spiritual care provider.

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Supervision For Spiritual Companions New groups begin as they fill. Existing groups add new members in February.

One of my great passions in life is to hold sacred space, where I coach spiritual caregivers who want to show up whole-heartedly for their seekers, and know that supervision is the best way to stay clear and connected to their divine. Check in about future groups with openings: 8 months of facilitated group supervision Meet monthy or alternate months Participants say: This format is affirming of my gifts and identity. It enriches my ministry. It is grounded in proven training. More info at https://tinyurl.com/SupervisionWithAmy Please pass this along to anyone who might be in need of supervision. Consent-based. Nationality, race, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender, health, marital-status, social class, history etc. safer-space.

More Info: Click Here

Wild Wisdom from Spiritual Direction A series of short interviews with spiritual mentors, companions, and seekers doing the healing work of spiritual direction.

First interview is available NOW! Stay tuned to this channel to see OTHER interviews about Forest Bathing, Slavic Spiritual healing, Druidic Three-Cauldrons, Internal Divine Family, and MORE ways to find your own spiritual direction, meaning, and enlivening relationship, with what you hold holy!

More Info: Click Here

A Spiritual Feast You are invited to Sunday’s “Spiritual Feast”, a service provided by Cherry Hill Seminary.

Join us for a Spiritual Feast Next Spiritual Feast: September 22) Cherry Hill Seminary offers semi-monthly gatherings for exploration of spiritual topics such as Eldering, Integrity, Primal Cows, Spiritual Recharge, and Compassion. Students, faculty, friends, guests and seekers are all welcome! Sundays (Closest to the 2nd and 20th of every month) 1pm Pacific, 4pm Eastern, 9pm London time for 1 hour no rsvp necessary Join us 5 minutes early for music and chatting. Let us gather for a spiritual feast!

Receive the Zoom Link: Click Here

 Spiritual Recharge

Recharge, Rejuvenate, refresh, restore, revive, replenish

We want it, but what is it, and how do we get it? 

Are we batteries? Plants? Old and tired? Broken? Low on Mana or Life-force? Dry and dusty like old cardboard stored in the attic? Sometimes I feel like a peeping baby bird - mouth wide - hoping the right nourishment will arrive.

Whatever image makes sense… we need spiritual sustenance to be poured down our parched throats. But it seems to be so hard to find some, to make time to receive. 

Maybe one distraction is that we have narrow ideas about the RIGHT way to replenish.

It helps me to think about four ways of embracing spirituality. And then to ask questions about what most attracts me. And what most distracts me. Where do I need to lean in harder? Where can I loosen my grip?

Earth Air Fire Water = heart, spirit, head, and body = Relationships, Spaciousness, Knowledge, and Work.

Earth

Body-Serve-Action

Acts of charity and kindness. helping others, purpose and fulfillment, and contribution to the world we dream of. volunteering, donating, offering a kind word or gesture, acting for justice.

I am a spiritual person who is an "Activist" (I express that when I "do")

• What are some activities that fall into this type of recharge? Cooking a loved one a meal, selecting a gift, witnessing or listening to someone marginalized, Rallies or organizing

• So many options! All valid!

Air

Head-Learn-Contemplation

Intellect, reason and beliefs, purpose, meaning, direction, personal growth, study, seeker of knowledge, curiosity. 

I am a spiritual person who is a Theologian. (I express that when I "think")

• What are some activities that fall into this type of recharge? Journaling, taking a class, listening to a spiritual teacher

• So many options! All valid!

Fire

Spirit-Let Go-Meditation

Ascetic, removing busy-ness and the pressures to do, do, do from our lives. Simplifying. Creating spaciousness and empty space. Being at-one or being Present, esp to Nature - including your own body. leaning into awe and flow. Beauty, Silence, Mystery.

I am a spiritual person who is a Mystic. (I express that when I "be")

• What are some activities that fall into this type of recharge? Media-fasts, Rest, Yoga Nidra, forest bathing

• So many options! All valid!

Water

Heart-Connect-Devotion

Relationships, Communal effervescence, laughter, joy, fun, celebration, gathering. emotion, warmth and personal relationship, love, connection. I

I am a spiritual person who is a Member. (I express that when I "feel")

• What are some activities that fall into this type of recharge? Shared singing or dancing, shared rituals, shared meals, chatting with deity at your altar

• So many options! All valid!

For me?

Lately I've noticed that if my thoughts are racing and I can't get to sleep - it is time for some spiritual refreshment. This month that looks like Yoga Nidra practice. What is working about that for me is the ways it is like meditation practice. I bring my mind to the present. No catastrophizing (or planning for) the future. No rehashing and regreting the past. Just being here, now. It only takes 20 minutes. But the difference for me is profound! I didn't notice the difference for a couple weeks, but then, I was startled to realize that I was breathing deeper, my mind was calm, my muscles were loose, and I fell asleep soon after going to bed. I remember this feeling from when I was 10 years old and camping in our favorite spot in the mountains. Being fully in the present moment!

That's me this month. I don't know what will be the right thing for me next month. As it turns out, I keep changing. Living for 60 years means I have a lot of experiences, but it doesn't mean I stop growing, changing, and having new experiences!

So, What's Next?

For these four ways of recharging, what most attracts you? And what most distracts you? Where do you need to lean in harder? Where can you loosen your grip?

What external and internal factors influence the amount of time you have or take for recharging? If you had more time for recharging, what would you do? 

What is preventing you from taking that time?

Deities in April-What energies of divinity do you claim or claim you?

What energies of divinity do you claim or claim you?

There’s so many deities!

Mother Earth, often called Gaia, is often called upon this time of year as many people celebrate earth day.

April is full of celebrations of deities.

April 7-8 is the Greek feast of Artemis.

April 15 is the Egyptian feast of Bast.

APR. 15-17: Feasts of the Seas –

• Honoring Yoruban God-Goddess as Olokun-Yemaya and
• Old Greek Okeanos-Tethys.

April 22: Festivals to honor deities:

• Babylonian Festival of Isthar,
• Japanese Feast of the Divine Couple and
• Norse Odin’s Day

APR. 23: Festival of the Greenman—honoring the God of the Forest and vegetation.

APR. 25: Has a few Spring Festivals –

• In Britannia, dedicated to Herne, Pan, the Horned God. –
• and further south, the Roman Robligalia dedicated to the Corn Mother (Ceres or Demeter) and Harvest.

Deities, or Energies

Whether you relate to deity as the ground of being, archetypes, parts of self, discrete beings you can interact with, nature spirits, the designer at the beginning of time, emanations from the one divine, a spiritual essence that is in everything, all of the above, none of the above, or something else…

how do you choose which idea or ideas to include in your spiritual practice? What symbols of divinity or the sacred do you put on your altar? Who do you pray to or with, Who do you listen to? Who do you call yours? What energies do you look for within yourself? Or invite to travel with you?

Grew up with? I know pagans who grew up with God, Jesus and the holy spirit who let go of the guy in the sky, but keep the humble teacher and friend.

Your ancestors? I know pagans who have done extensive research to find out who their ancestors revered. Or who have adopted the ancestral deities of their community or chosen family. I know Pagans who cannot trace their family heritage but want to celebrate deities who are from a time their race was in revered history, such of Black Folks claiming deities from Kemetism, the religion of ancient Egypt.

The place where you live? I know pagans who have done research into the deities who were understood to care for or be from the places where they currently live. Maybe the Corn Mother, if you are in Algonquin lands. Or Cernunnos if you are in the British isles.

A deity who you feel you’ve had an experience where they asked you to be theirs? I know pagans who have done reading or visited other’s cultural traditions and became ‘claimed’ by a deity… Perhaps Brigit from celtic culture or Dionysus from Hellenic/Greek culture, or Yemaya from the Yoruba or Santeria traditions.

Divine Energies

Maybe the idea of named deity from a particular culture or place isn’t making sense for you…

Maybe it is “kindness” or “love” or some other concept that is of ultimate meaning for you?

Maybe it is the energy of a plant or animal or body of water or land feature… Maybe it is something that is in EVERYTHING…

Whatever it is. It is good to notice what makes sense and works for YOU!

War and Peace

 

To fight tooth and nail

To bite the bullet

In the trenches

To go over the top

At loggerheads

To hit the target

A battle of nerves

To cross swords

Have dodged a bullet

Don't shoot the messenger

To drop a bombshell

Great guns

Fight fire with fire

Gun shy

She's a riot

Knight in shining armor

In your sights

Long shot

A loose cannon

On guard

Pull the trigger

Offer an olive branch

Hold your peace

Make peace

A meeting of minds

At peace with the world

Offering grace

Peace and quiet

Leave in peace

Peace of mind

Peace and quiet

Peace

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. 

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. 

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. 

In this moment, let us call in the elements, forces or presences to remind us that this is sacred connection and community.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Cherry Hill Seminary SpiDir Certification Starting Spring '24

Spiritual Direction Certification Program

Do people seek you out for spiritual companionship and support? Or are you already a spiritual care provider, looking to expand what you offer? 

Honor your calling by becoming credentialed in spiritual direction work at Cherry Hill Seminary. 

• 2-year program 

• affordable

• cohort based virtual community 

• grounded in earth-relating traditions 

• diverse teachers bring Pagan, Indigenous, Catholic, Sufi, Animist, neuro-diverse, gender-fabulous, and more wisdom

Applications accepted on a rolling basis until a cohort is formed: Expected start is March 2024.

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.

Check in directly with Amy by finding time at: https://www.amybeltaine.info/Home/schedule

SpiDir Program: Click Here

Spiritual Direction Supervision: Starting September

Supervision for Spiritual Companions Facilitated group supervision for practicing Spiritual Directors who yearn for affirmation and enrichment in a context of diverse spiritualities.

Global Majority and LGBTQIA+ Affirming Semi-monthly option Lucy Abbot Tucker, Urban Spirituality, and Earth-based trained 12 years experience  Starting September!

Supervision Info: Click Here

 

U, U, & UU History Cherry Hill Seminary’s U, U, and UU History class: open for Pre-registration

Discover the Broad Scope of Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist history and key stories from that history. Fall session Semi-intensive All online 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. 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. Join us! (And pass the word!) Email to pre-register or review the syllabus.

U, U, & UU History: Click Here

Are You A Good Witch?

"You claim an alignment of neutral good. Yet you went against your nature!"

Stirge by Ir'revrykal  CC3.0

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.

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 Amberra. 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.

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.

Photo used with permission by @OregonGirlRebecca

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. 

Now, I have made peace with the fact that my higher good speaks to me through less easily described means.

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.

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.

Image Source: iStock

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. 

Message received.

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.

I See Dead People

We 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.

Family on the Beach

Everyone 

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.

An Unbroken Line

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.

"untitled" by Corey Post

Invitation

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.

"Fairy" painting by Corey Post in my home office

Bone Deep

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.
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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! Click Here.