Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Buzz Coil: July '10

A look at some posts of interest from our blogroll and sometimes beyond:

Pagan Godspell: In a long June 30 post, "Values: Justice and Reverence", blogger Ruby Sara reports on the Wisteria Summer Solstice Festival, announces that she will be a regular columnist for Witches and Pagans magazine and a regular guest blogger at The Honeybee Conservancy, shares part of an interview of Barry Lopez by Bill Moyers about reverence, and riffs on the ideas of justice and reverence, modulating to thoughts about identity and definition, "radical individualism," freedom and liberty, community, spirituality and religion.

At Brigid’s Forge: Lunaea Weatherstone compares the Goddess to a


cosmic sheep dog, gently nipping at my heels to turn me this way or that.
Lunaea was planning to move to Bellingham, WA, but, she feels
the Goddess swiveled my head around and begin guiding me in a new direction.
Why? Where is Lunaea planning to move now? Read the July 15 post, "Course Correction" and then you’ll know.

Glaux’s Nest: In her July 6 post,
"Creating the Women’s Goddess Retreat," blogger Glaux writes that the retreat "started as a vision. It came from Hera...." (Other inspiration came from Tina Fey). She gives a link to more info about the second annual retreat in Indiana this September.

Read This and Weep: Seems more like an occasion for celebration than for weeping in Carol Lovekin’s July 23 post, "In Praise of Women." She writes about her Women in Tune collective, many of whose members are Goddess women and their preparations for a women’s music festival in Wales August 12-15.

The Village Witch:In the Asheville (NC) Citizen-Times, Byron Ballard’s July 24 post, "I Can See Clearly Now..." is about a workshop at the Asheville Mother Grove that day. Her July 25 post, "Full Moon in Aquarius..." tells about a women’s gathering at which women on each side of her were having "some issues with their Achilles tendon..." This turned Byron’s thinking to the myth of Achilles’ mother dipping him in the River Styx for protection. But Byron couldn’t remember his mother’s name. This prompted her to ask, "Ain’t that the way of it?" And she continues....

Z Budapest Blog: Z asks,
"When is it Your Turn?" in her July 3 post, speaking mostly to many women who are "not too young anymore." She writes:

At the end what we take with us is experiences, the memories of the divine. Do you have enough?

and she continues

Your life is not a donation....

And there's more....

Peeling a Pomegranate: Ketzirah (Carly), in her July 25 post, "Netivot Prayer Beads," tells about making prayer beads for the first time at the membership retreat of a DC spiritual organization, Becoming. She selected 13 "perfect beads" to represent a sung prayer called "Netivot" in her Hebrew Priestess tradition. She then tells which bead represents which netivah. The first 5 she describes are Weaver, Maiden, Mother, Matriarch, and Midwife. With a beautiful pic of the finished prayer beads.

Amused Grace: In her July 20
"Goddess of the Week" post, Thalia Took draws from her deck Melaina, a lesser known, "dark, angry" chthonic aspect of Demeter. Thalia explores the source and meaning of Melaina’s anger, and how going into the dark can help us.

Hecate: In a July 19 post, "Hail, Baba Yaga," blogger Hecate remarks that Baba Yaga "is one of the four Goddesses that I call whenever I sit at my altar." Then she asks, "What Goddess are you trying to know better?" Maybe you want to mosey on over there and tell her.

The Great Tininess: Blogger Johnny Rapture's July 8 post, "The People's Saints" begins by declaring the late artist Frida Kahlo a saint, then gets into the argument of whether Christians stole religious pracices and beliefs from Pagans or vice versa. He then tells why he has canonized Kahlo, calling her Saint Frida, among other epithets.

Panthea: "Is Something Missing in Your Spiritual Practice?" Panthea blogger asks on July 1. She follows with a list of prompting questions for those "less than satisfied with their spiritual Goddess experience." When I peeked in this morning, no one had ventured a comment. Does this mean everyone is satisfied?

The Wild Hunt: In Jason Pitzl-Waters’ July 24 post, "Community Notes: ADF Fundraiser, Isaac Bonewits, SJ Tucker, and More!" you’ll find an item about the August 7 rally for the Triple Goddess Bookstore in Okemos, Michigan. The store is in danger of closing due to threatened foreclosure.

Mary Magdalene Within: In her July 19 post, "Sing your secret through us , Lady," Joan Norton shares her thoughts and plans for Mary Magdalene’s Feast Day on July 22. With a big pic of Magdalene and a poem by Penn Kemp.

Did we miss an item you think is important? We’d like to know about it, so please leave it as a comment.

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Monday, July 19, 2010

New Goddess & Spiritual Feminism Organization

A new organization related to Goddess spirituality and spiritual feminism has just been launched. Called the Institute for Theology & Deasophy (ITD) and founded in association with Ocean Seminary College, its website describes it as

a research center dedicated to charting and further developing the fields of thealogy, deasophy, and their relationship to feminist theory and praxis. The Institute seeks to provide a bridge between the resources, insights, and queries related to academic scholarship and the wisdom, inquiries, and practices of the contemporary feminist spirituality communities along with past traditions of the Goddess.
ITD's founder is Angela Hope, who teaches at Ocean Seminary College, Saint Mary's University, and the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. The Board of Directors currently includes Kate MacDowell, founder and dean of Ocean Seminary College; Patricia Iolana, a doctoral candidate at the University of Glasgow; Z Budapest, who founded in 1971 the Susan B. Anthony Coven Number 1, and who played a pivotal role in U. S. in the beginnings of Dianic Witchcraft and of feminist/women's spirituality; Deanne Quarrie (aka Bendis) founder the The Apple Branch, a Dianic tradition, and founder of Global Goddess, an online community; Shan Morgain (bio to come); and Xochital Alvizo, a doctoral student at Boston University who was a student and close friend of the late Mary Daly.

Research fellows currently include: Max Dashu, founder of the Suppressed Histories Archives and well known speaker and teacher; Melinda Grube, adjunct professor of history at Cayuga Community College; and Trish Mattei, currently pursuing masters degrees at both St. Edwards University and Ocean Seminary College.

Membership in ITC is currently open and free, and there are plans for online forums, social networking, a listserv, and CEU opportunities.

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Sunday, July 11, 2010

Events Coil: July 13-Aug. 31

As far as we know, all events we list are open functions; but some may be limited to women or to adults and some may require that you notify them that you plan to attend. Please check the websites for group policies. If no country is given, the event is in the USA. All times are local. Internet events have the time zone indicated, usually taken from the event listing. Events lasting more than 1 day are bolded. When listing events for the same date, we have tried to list those that occur first, taking into account time zone differences. If there is a difference between our listings and the listings on the web page linked to, assume their web page is correct, as it may have changed since we listed from it. Ongoing events are listed after the dated events. The next Events Coil is planned for mid-August and will include events listed here that haven't yet happened, plus new events through late September. If you have an event you want listed, please leave info as a comment. See the end of this Coil for what info we need for listings.

Now - Aug. 15, "The Lost World Of Old Europe," (same exhibition as previously at NYU), Ashmolean Museum, Oxford University, Oxford ENGLAND

July 13, time tba,
Celebrate Cerridwen, Daughters of the Goddess, San Francisco CA

July 15, 3 p.m. PT, "Cakes for the Queen of Heaven, Class 1, "The Sacred Female, WWW INTERNET

July 15, time tba,
Mary Magdalene Celebration, Future Church and Maltz Mseum of Jewish Heritage, Cleveland OH


July 18, 11 a.m. Goddess Service honoring Hathor, with Valerie Eagleheart and Drum Community, Goddess Temple of Orange County, Irvine CA

July 18, Noon-5 p.m. "Memory Keepers" and Women's Art & Antique Exhibit and Auction; 1 p.m. Max Dashu presents "Restoring Women to Cultural Memory," with music; Code Pink, Berkeley CA

July 22, 3 p.m. PT,
Cakes..., Class 2: "In the Name of the Mother and Daughter," WWW INTERNET

July 22, Noon-2 p.m. ET,
"Magdalene Circle" webcast with Margaret Starbird, Joan Norton, and Cynthia Johnson, WWW INTERNET

July 24, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
7th Annual Mary Magdalene Celebration, "Woman: Creation to Compassion -A Multifaith Celebration," Sedona AZ

July 24, Noon,
Temple decorating for Lammas; time tba, "Cakes..." course, Goddess Temple of Orange County, Irvine CA

July 24, 7:30 p.m.
"A Miracle Play" about Mary Magdalene by Margaret Starbird, Interfaith Community, Seattle WA

July 25, 10:30 a.m.,
Miriam of Magdala Sunday Celebration, Church of Gnosis, Mountain View CA

July 25, 11 a.m.
Goddess Service honoring Gaia, Goddess Temple of Orange County, Irvine CA

July 25, 6 p.m. "Feast Day of Mary the Magdalene," Brigid's Place and the Magdalene Community, Houston TX

July 25, time tba,
Full Moon Celebration, Maetreum of Cybele, Palenville NY

July 26, 7 p.m.
Full Moon Drumming , Goddess Temple of Orange County, Irvine CA

July 27, 7 p.m.
Full Moon Circle, Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, near Barneveld WI

July 28-Aug. 1,
Glastonbury Goddess Conference 2010, Glastonbury ENGLAND

July 28, 3 p.m PT, "Cakes..." course, Class 3 "Womanpower,"
WWW INTERNET

July 30-Aug. 1, Green Spirit Festival (a Celtic Lughnassadh), Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, near Barneveld WI

July 31, time tba, Lammas ritual, London Reclaiming, North London ENGLAND


July 31, 1 p.m., Lammas ritual, Golden Gate Park, SF Reclaiming, San Francisco CA

July 31, 7 p.m.
First Harvest: Lammas, Goddess Temple of Orange County, Irvine CA

July 31, 7 p.m. Lammas,
Circle of Aradia, Sherman Oaks CA

Aug. 1, doors open 12.00 uur, ceremony at 14.00 uur;
Lammas, Nederlandse Godinnen Tempel, Hillgom NEDERLAND


Aug. 1, 7:30 p.m. Lammas Ceremony, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury ENGLAND

Aug 1, 1 p.m. Lammas Ritual, Moonfire, Arlington VA

Aug. 1, 11 a.m.
Goddess Service honoring Ceres, Goddess Temple of Orange County, Irvine CA

Aug 1, 8 p.m.
Lunasa Sabbat, WCC Toronto Temple, Toronto CANADA

Aug. 3, 7:30 p.m."Circle of Craft" with Lady Deberah, Goddess Temple of Orange County,
Irvine CA

Aug. 5, 3 p.m. PT, "Cakes..." course, Class 4, "The First Turning from Goddess to God," WWW INTERNET

Aug. 5, time tba,
Full Moon Song and Drum Circle, Montreal Reclaiming, Montreal CANADA

Aug. 7, time tba,
Goddess Meetup, Maetreum of Cybele, Palenville NY

Aug. 6-8,
Kohenet (Hebrew Priestess) Open Shabbat, Kohenet Training Institute, Port Chester NY

Aug. 8, 11 a.m.
.Goddess Service honoring Inanna, Goddess Temple of Orange County,
Irvine CA

Aug. 9, New Kohenet Training begins, Kohenet Training Institute, Port Chester NY

Aug. 9, 6:30 p.m.
Women's New Moon, Temple of Goddess Spirituality Dedicated to Sekhmet, Indian Springs NV

Aug. 10, 7 p.m
.New Moon Drumming , Goddess Temple of Orange County,
Irvine CA

Aug. 12, 3 p.m. PT, "Cakes..." course, Class 5, "Reclaiming Women's Heritage of Peace,"
WWW INTERNET

Aug. 12-15 ,Women in Tune Music Festival WIT, Llangybi WALES

Aug. 13-15, Harvest Meadows Womens Festival, Maetreum of Cybele, Palenville NY

Aug. 13, 7:30 p.m., Celebrate Egyptian Sky Goddess Nut, Daughters of the Goddess, San Francisco CA

Aug. 13, time tba
."Mami Wata" with Szmeralda Shanel, Goddess Temple of Orange County,
Irvine CA

Aug. 14, 7 p.m."Daughters of the Dark Mother" with Szmeralda Shanel, Goddess Temple of Orange County,
Irvine CA

Aug. 15, 11 a.m..Goddess Service honoring the Melissae, Goddess Temple of Orange County,
Irvine CA

Aug. 22, 11 a.m..Goddess Service honoring Chin Mu, Goddess Temple of Orange County,
Irvine CA

Aug. 24, 7 p.m., Full Moon Ritual, Temple of Goddess Spirituality Dedicated to Sekhmet, Indian Springs NV

Aug. 28,
Palenville Pagan Pride Day, Maetrum of Cybele,
Palenville NY

Ongoing

Australia

Perth (White Gum Valley): Mondays, 17:30,
Chalice Ceremony, Daughters of Ishtar.

Belgium
Gent
,
most days 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Goddess Temple open for personal prayers.

Canada
Hamilton: Saturdays, 4 p.m.
Open Classes ; gather 7 p.m. Open Circles , Hamilton Temple, Wiccan Church of Canada.

Great Britain
Glastonbury: Priestess/Priest of Avalon Training Program, both in Glastonbury (Avalon) and by correspondence, Glastonbury Goddess Temple.
Glastonbury: Most days except Mondays, Noon-4 p.m. Temple Open for personal prayers; Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. Belly Dancing
; Thursdays, 7 p.m. Temple Ritual Dance Class, Glastonbury Goddess Temple.

Sweden
Soderhamn, Gudinne Temple Open weekdays Noon
-6 p.m. Mondays, 7-9 p.m., meditation prayer, conversation.

USA
Arlington VA: 3rd Sunday of month, time tba, ritual Moonfire.
Berkeley CA: last Sunday of month, 5 p.m., East Bay Goddess Rosary, University Lutheran Chapel.
Canton CT: Sundays, 10:30 a.m. Services, Women's Temple: In Her Name

Charleston SC: 1st Tuesday of month, Women's Circle with Carolyn Rivers, The Sophia Institute
Geyersville CA:
Sunday Services 2-4 p.m.
Temple of Isis
Grants Pass OR: Monday Services; doors open 6 p.m. for silent meditation; service starts 6:30 p.m. and includes teachings, candle-lighting, drumming & singing, Southern Oregon Temple of the Goddess. Houston TX: Sundays, 10 a.m. Magdalene Community, Rothko Chapel; 1st &3rd Fridays at Noon, Group studying Gospel of Mary, Brigid's Place, Christ Church Cathedral.
Irvine CA: Sunday Services, 1st Service at 9:30 a.m. until July 5, then 10 a.m. inward, meditative; 2nd service at 11 a.m., dancing, drumming, singing; see dates for guest speakers.
Friday services, gather 6 p.m., service 6:30 p.m. "All Souls in Reverence." Goddess Temple of Orange County
Minneapolis, MN: Monthly Womens Spirituality Group, True Colors Bookstore.
Palenville NY: Saturdays, 5 p.m. training sessions; Sundays 4-6 p.m, open classes, 7 p.m. Pagan Circles,Matreum of Cybele.
San Francisco CA
: Wednesdays,
Christian Goddess Rosary, Ebenezer Lutheran Church; 1st Fridays, evenings at various locations, Woman's Spirituality group.
San Francisco CA: New Moon and Full Moon observances,
Maa Batakali Cultural Mission.
St. Sandy UT: second Saturday of each month, 4:30 p.m., Isis Devotionals, Iseum of Muth/Lyceum of Auset and Heru em Aakhuti
Washington DC: 2nd Sunday of month; gather Noon, ritual 12:15 p.m., National Arboretum, Becoming DC.
West Concord MA:
1st Monday, 7-9 p.m.
Women's Circles; other ongoing groups include Demeter & Persephone's Circle for mothers and daughters; Council of Mother Bears; Menopause As Spiritual Journey; Menarche, for mothers and Daughter, at Women's Well.

World Wide Web
Online, various times, Woman Shaman, course with Max Dashu.
Online, Wednesdays, 6 p.m. PT
"Voices of the Sacred Feminine" interviews with well-known Goddessians and Pagans, hosted by Karen Tate, Blog Talk Radio.

Online, Sundays, 11 a.m. PT, "Creatrix Media Live" roundtable discussions include guests and phone-in audience participation, co-hosted by Jayne DeMent and Anniitra Ravenmoon, Blog Talk Radio.

We'll be happy to add your Goddess and spiritual feminist events (and those you know about that are open to the public) no matter where in the world they are. Leave a comment giving: Name of event, sponsoring organization (if any), town, date, time (if known), and, required: url of website where person can get more info (no pdf pages, no password-protected pages). (Do NOT give street addresses, phone numbers or email addresses. People should go to the website to get that info.) We plan to publish an Events Coil every month.

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Thursday, July 01, 2010

Winter Solstice in Australia



A few days ago in Katoomba, Australia, this Winter Magic Festival parade and belly dance performance by the Ghawazi Caravan celebrated the season. (You do know that in ancient times, this dance was connected to Goddess-honoring, and that it was also used to prepare women for childbirth.) This video opens and closes with a brief look at the Winter Solstice observance at Pagaian Moon Court. All events took place in the Blue Mountains of Australia. The videographer is Taffy Seaborne and the narrator is Glenys Livingstone, who I want to thank for alerting us to it.

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