Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Buzz Coil: September '11

The Slacktiverse: Blogger Literata contributed a must-read post on Sept. 23, “Spiriting Away Democracy,” a thorough piece on the Christian Dominionists’ plan to Christianize the US including renaming its capital, “District of Christ.” With information on their anti-woman, anti-Goddess views and a project organized by Pagans to preserve religious freedom called, Hail Columbia.

HecateDemeter: Blogger Hecate has been doing tarot readings in conversation with Goddess Columbia, whose statue stands atop the US Capitol. “Conversations with Columbia, Part Five,” posted Sept. 18, is the inspiring last in this series and links to the previous series posts.

The Wild Hunt: Jason Pitzl-Waters’ Sept. 14 post shares “The New Apostolic Reformation Message to Pagans,” contained in a report from Cara Shulz of PNC-Minnesota. NAR has organized the “DC-40” October crusade to Christianize the US. Jason’s Sept. 10 post, “Updates: Phoenix Goddess Temple, Santa Muerte, New Apostolic Reformation” leads with news of the arrest of Phoenix Goddess Temple staff for “prostitution, pandering, and conspiracy.”

Association for the Study of Women & Mythology: A September 21 post announces that the organization is “Seeking Proposals for 2012 ASWM Conference” that will be held in San Francisco May 10-13. The post includes some general suggested topics.

Feminism and Religion: Here are just some of the intriguing posts by a variety of bloggers on this blog this month:

─In a Sept. 23 post, “The Black Horse: Our Bodies Our Selves,” Carol P. Christ writes that a passage in Plato’s Phaedrus about the taming of a horse elicits a response in her about the discipline applied to human females. She also discusses the interpretation of Plato’s passage in Val Plumwood’s Feminism and the Mastery of Nature.

─A Sept. 15 post by Carol Flinders, “In the Beginning was. . . The Mother,” explores “matrix,” “matriarchy” and other words associated with “Mother” through etymology and recent and longer-term social history, especially among the Pomo tribe of northern California.

─In a Sept. 19 post, “Religious Mestizaje,” Xochitl Alvizo, who identifies as “a Goddess loving person as well as a Christian-identified one,” discusses Gloria Andzaldua’s and her own understanding of religious mestizaje.

─In her Sept. 9 post, Goddess feminist Carol P. Christ takes the post's title, “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” from a Christian hymn and writes that this title describes her understanding of Goddess or Goddess/God. She then explains why she is a process theologian and where she places herself in other theological frameworks.

Veleda: In her Sept. 18 post, “Female Powers and Places in Indian North America,” Max Dashu shares information from a book by Peter Nabakov that emphasizes the importance of oral history and provides information on the Mandan, Hidatsa, Lakota, Paha Sapa, Washu, Niya, Kiowa, Choctaw, Pawnee, Wintu, Karok, Yurok, and others. Dashu also comments on Nabokov’s views on cultural appropriation and his “feminist-negative” attitude.

American Witch: In her Sept 27 post, “Merry Mabon: Equinox Invocations and…” Annie Finch shares her experience of using new invocations for the first time to cast a circle this Mabon. The invocations are from her new book of poems. Of the experience, she writes:
". . .I was so afraid they would sound forced instead of magickal. But they did sound magickal: they worked!"

The Village Witch: Byron Ballard describes “The Long Road to Dusk,” in her Sept. 25 post about her Asheville NC group’s Harvest Home (Equinox/Mabon) observance in a park and the beginning of “the feast days that mark Samhaintide.”

No Longer Quivering is a blog with posts by several women who were previously involved in the fundamentalist Christian Quiverfull movement. A Sept. 13 post by the blog founder, Vickie, “Have You Read the NLQ FAQS,” updates information about Quiverfull as well as the ex-Quiverfulls.

Driving Audhumla: In her Aug. 13 post,
“They must think we’re nothing but heifers,” Victoria Slind-Flor sees similarities in the breeding philosophy of jailed FDLS leader Warren Jeffs and the TV programs “The Bachelor” and “Toddlers and Tiaras,” as well as the background and possible motivation of the the man accused of the recent mass murders in Norway.

Capital Witch: In a Sept. 22 post,
“Breaking: Lease is Signed for the DC Pagan Community Center,” this Pagan Newswire blog announces that the Open Hearth Foundation, which has been fund-raising for a DC Pagan community center for a number of years, has signed a lease for space in the Eastern Market area of DC. (A pic of the statue of Columbia atop the US Capitol graces this blog’s masthead.)

From Jupiter: Blogger Cosette asks
“Should Pagans have churches?” in a Sept 13 post prompted by coverage of the Phoenix Goddess Temple.

Onion Work: In her Sept. 8 post, “Bewitched and Befuddled: A Spiritual Journey (Part One)” Ruby Sara tells a story of her religious upbringing by her mom, “the Atheist Matriarch,” with whom she sometimes attended a Unitarian Universalist church, and her father who was “a kinda sorta deist.” Ruby then describes her own spiritual explorations.

Labels:

Sunday, September 25, 2011

New Book: Goddess Matters


I'm happy to announce the publication of my book, Goddess Matters: the mystical, practical, & controversial. Here's a somewhat shortened description:
Goddess Matters: the mystical, practical, & controversial provides an intense look at today’s global trends in Goddess spirituality and emerging Goddess religions, covering a wide range of subjects, some of them rarely discussed in other books. These include contemporary Goddess temples and conferences, Goddess ethics, practical approaches to sexual risks, responses to natural disasters, emerging Goddess figures in Judaism and Christianity, and various controversies. Also included are chapters on intuitive and psychic work, and death and the possibility of “afterlife." Judith Laura began writing about some of these topics in her column in the journal, The Beltane Papers, 2002-2007, and in posts to her blog. She develops this material more fully in this book.
The book's official publication date was Sept. 15, but I've been holding off telling you about it until it appeared in a few online bookstores. Last time I looked it was selling at deep discounts in at least 3 online booksellers in the US. The book is/will be be available not only in the US, but also in the UK, EU, Canada, and if all goes well, Australia, and probably elsewhere. Links to the book's page on some bookseller sites, plus a longer description, other details, and an excerpt from the Introduction are on judithlaura.com/gm.html


Labels: ,

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Merlin Stone Memorial Saturday to be Streamed Live

"Remembering Merlin Stone, a Memorial Celebration" this Saturday near Tampa, Florida, this Saturday, Sept. 24, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. ET will be streamed live on the internet at utstream.tv , according to information we received today from Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary.

The memorial, which is open to the public, both women and men, is being held at at Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater, 1470 Nursery Road in Clearwater. Donations welcome, but not required.

In an email meant to be publicly circulated, Selena writes: "Merlin Stone was an artist, art historian, author, and visionary feminist. She focused attention on Goddess reverence of the ancient past. She gathered together Goddess imagery, symbols, and lore from many peoples and shared with others through her books, radio appearances, and other endeavors. She inspired the emergence of multicultural Goddess spirituality in contemporary times. Her memorial is an wonderful opportunity to celebrate Merlin Stone, her works, her life, and her legacy"

Selena will be among Merlin's friends and colleagues speaking at the memorial. Other speakers include Z Budapest, Ruth Barrett, Barbara Walker, Susun Weed, and Margot Adler. The memorial will also include music by Hecate's Wheel, Emmet Bondurant, and Ruth Barrett.

The memorial, organized by Z Budapest and the Women's Spirituality Forum, has the support of Merlin's family, Selena writes. It is part of the "In Search of Merlin Stone" project.

Here are some other links about this event:
Latest information
Other information about Memorial and Merlin Stone
Short video about Merlin Stone
Additional information is also available at merlinstone.net

Labels: , , ,

Monday, September 12, 2011

Events Coil: Sept. 16-Oct. 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 USA. All times local. Times for computer/Internet/Web events are given for the place of origin. 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 link, assume their web page is correct as details may have changed since we listed from it. Ongoing events are listed after the dated events. The next Events Coil is planned for mid October and will include events listed here that haven't yet happened, plus new events through late November. 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.

Sept. 16, 4 p.m., Temple Dressing for Autumn Equinox, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury ENGLAND

Sept. 18, doors open 13.00 uur, ceremonie begins 14.00 uur, Herfst Equinox Ceremonie,
Nederlandse Godinnen Tempel, Hillegom, NEDERLAND

Sept. 16-18
Harvest Home, Caya, San Francisco CA

Sept. 23, 6 p.m. Autumn Equinox Ceremony, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury ENGLAND

Sept. 23, potluck 7 p.m., ceremony 8 p.m. Mabon, Temple of Goddess Spirituality Dedicated to Sekhmet, Indian Springs NV

September 24, 4 p.m., Eostar/Spring Equinox ritual, MoonCourt, Blue Mountains AUSTRALIA

Sept. 24-25, Inanna in Avalon with Idris Charles, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury ENGLAND

Sept 24, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Merlin Stone Memorial, UU Church, Clearwater FL

Sept. 24, 2 p.m. Ohana Day, Daughters of the Goddess, San Francisco CA

Sept. 24, Welcome Fall, Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, near Mt. Horeb WI

Sept. 24, "Gender & Earth-Based Spirituality," theme of Conference on Earth-Based, Nature-Centered, Polytheistic & Indigenous Faiths, Pagan Alliance, San Francisco, CA

Sept. 24, 1 p.m. Mabon/Equinox Ritual, SF Reclaiming, San Francisco CA

Sept. 24, 4 p.m. Mabon Ritual, North Bay Reclaiming, Sebastopol CA

Sept. 25, 3 p.m., Mabon Service, Goddess Temple Inc., Lakewood OH

Sept. 27, 2 p.m. New Moon Healing, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury ENGLAND

Sept. 27, potluck 7 p.m. sharing 8 p.m., Women's New Moon Sharing Circle, Temple of Goddess Spirituality Dedicated to Sekhmet, Indian Springs NV

Sept. 30- Oct. 2, Workshops with Kathy Jones, Priestess of Avalon, Melbourne AUSTRALIA

Sept. 30-Oct. 2,
In het Hart De Godin (In the Heart of the Goddess) 3-day intensive, Nederlandse Godinnen Tempel,
Hillegom NEDERLAND

Oct. 1, Britannia Wheel of the Year Workshop with Tina Free, Glastonbury Goddess Temple,
Glastonbury ENGLAND

Sept 30-Oct. 2 "A Taste of Cakes," UU Women & Religion, JPD, Buckeystown MD

Oct. 2, 11 a.m. Goddess Service honoring Yama No Shimba, Goddess Temple of Orange County, Irvine CA

Oct. 5, Workshop with Kathy Jones, Priestess of Avalon, Canberra AUSTRALIA

Oct. 7-9, Workshops with Kathy Jones, Priestess of Avalon, Blue Mountains AUSTRALIA

Oct. 8, 7 p.m. Lady of Avalon Ceremony, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury ENGLAND

Oct. 8, time tba, Full Moon Ritual, Grove of Artemis, Caya Coven, San Francisco CA

Oct. 9, 10 a.m. Madron Day, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury ENGLAND

Oct. 9, 11 a.m. Goddess Service honoring Themis, Goddess Temple of Orange County, Irvine CA

Oct. 9, 8-10 p.m. Selena Fox on Bob Hieronimus radio show talking aobut Lady Liberty as an ancient and contemporary Goddess, streamed on internet, available from itunes, and broadcast on WCBM 680 AM in Baltimore MD

Oct. 11 7 p.m. Crone Witch Full Moon Circle with Selena Fox, Circle Sanctuary near Barneveld WI

Oct. 11, 7 p.m.
Full Moon Ceremony, Temple of Goddess Spirituality Dedicated to Sekhmet, Indian Springs NV

Oct. 12, 7:45 p.m. Full Moon Gathering, The Goddess House, Adelaide AUSTRALIA

Oct.11, 7 p.m. Drum Circle, Goddess Temple of Orange County, Irvine CA

Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m. Ceremonial Embodiment of the Lady of Avalon, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury ENGLAND

Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m.Goddess Temple Moonlodge, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury ENGLAND

Oct. 14-16 2011 Australian Goddess Conference
, Goddess Association of Australia, Gold Coast, AUSTRALIA

Oct.16 , 11 a.m. Goddess Service honoring Spes, Goddess Temple of Orange County, Irvine CA

Oct 18, 7 p.m. Powers of the Crone, Circle Sanctuary, near Barneveld WI

Oct. 23-26, Into the Cauldron of Keridwen, non-residential retreat, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury ENGLAND

Oct. 23 11 a.m., Goddess Service honoring Hina, Goddess Temple of Orange County, Irvine CA

Oct. 23, 7 p.m. Marija Gimbutas Film: A Story of a Remarkable Life, Women's Well, Concord MA

Oct. 25, 7 p.m. Crone Journey in the Underworld, Circle Sanctuary, near Barneveld WI

Oct. 26,7 p.m. potluck, 8 p.m. Circle;Women's New Moon Sharing Circle, Temple of Goddess Spirituality Dedicated to Sekhmet, Indian Springs NV

Oct. 26, 2 p.m. New Moon Healing, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury ENGLAND

Oct. 28, 4 p.m. Temple Dressing for Samhain, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury ENGLAND

Oct 28-30, Hallows Gathering, Re-formed Congregation of the Goddess, Wisconsin Dells WI

Oct. 28-30, Samhain Festival, Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, near
Barneveld WI

Oct. 28, time tba, Annual Women's Spiral Dance,--Hallowmas, Daughters of the Goddess, San Francisco CA

Oct. 29, doors open 6 p.m. ritual &:30 p.m. 32nd Annual Spiral Dance, Reclaiming, Kesar Pavilion, San Francisco CA

Oct. 29 time tba, Underworld Crone, Caya Amazons, San Francisco CA

Oct. 30, doors open 13.00 uur, ceremonie 14.00 uur, Samhain ceremonie, Nederlandse Godinnen Tempel, Hillegom NEDERLAND

Oct. 30 11 a.m. Goddess Service honoring Ch'ango, Goddess Temple of Orange County, Irvine CA

Oct. 30, gather 6 p.m. ritual 7 p.m., Samhain ritual, North Bay Reclaiming, Sebastopol CA

Oct. 30, time tba, Samhain, Caya Coven, San Francisco CA

Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m. Samhain Ceremony, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury ENGLAND

Oct. 31, doors open 6:30 p.m., ritual 7 p.m., doors lock 7:15 p.m.Temple Holy Day: Hallows, Goddess Temple of Orange County, Irvine CA

Oct.31, 8 p.m. Samhain, Temple of Goddess Spirituality Dedicated to Sehkmet,
Indian Springs NV

Ongoing

AUSTRALIA
Adelaide, 2nd Tuesday of month, 7:30 p.m. Goddess Devotional Service, The Goddess House.

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

SWEDEN

Solderhamm, weekdays, Noon-6 p.m,Godinne Templet Open; Mondays p.m. meditation, prayer, conversation.

USA
Annapolis MD, Friday of each month closest to full moon, 7 p.m.
Women's Full Moon Circle, UUCA
Asheville NC, Sundays 10 a.m. drumming, 10:30 a.m. Service, Morning Devotionals, Mother Grove Goddess Temple.
Berkeley CA, last Sunday of month, 5 p.m. East Bay Goddess Rosary, University Lutheran Chapel.

Canton CT, Sundays, 10:30 p.m. Services, Women's Temple: In Her Name.
Carson City, NV, Mondays 6 p.m., Women's Spirituality Studies with Mama J, Sisters of the Sacred Circle.
Concord MA, 1st Monday 7-9 p.m.Women's Circles' other ongoing groups include Demeter & Persephone's Circles for mothers and daughters, Council of Mother Dears; Menopause as Spiritual Journey; Menarche for mothers and daughters; Goddess Groove Drum Circle, at Women's Well.

Geyserville CA, Sunday Services 2-4 p.m.
Temple of Isis.
Irvine CA,
Sunday Services, 1st service at 9:30 a.m., inward meditation; 2nd service at 11 a.m.; see dates for guest speakers, Goddess Temple of Orange County.

Palenville NY, Sundays 5 p.m.training sessions; Sundays 7 p.m. Pagan Circles,
Maetreum of Cybele.
San Francisco CA, Wednesdays, Goddess Rosary, Ebenezer Lutheran Church.
Seattle WA, 2nd Sunday, doors open 10 a.m., Goddess Service 10:30 a.m.,
Gaia's Temple.

ONLINE, WORLD WIDE WEB
Course:
Alternate Fridays,
"Celebrating Cosmogenesis," for people in both Southern and Northern Hemispheres, with Australian author Glenys Livingstone, originates in NSW, Australia.
Podcasts:times tba,
"Talking to Goddess," interviews, music, and more from Gaia's Garden, originates in Melbourne, Australia.
Podcasts: Wednesdays 6 p.m. PT,
"Voices of the Sacred Feminine," interviews with well-known Goddessians and Pagans hosted by Karen Tate, Blog Talk Radio. Originates in California.
Podcasts: 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'd be happy to add your Goddess and spiritual feminist events (and those you know about that are open to th
e public) no matter where in the world they are. Please leave a comment giving: Name of event, sponsoring organization (if any), town, state (if in US), country (if outside of US) 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 eamil addresses. People should go to the website for that info.

Labels: ,

Friday, September 02, 2011

Info On Our Events Coil

I was recently contacted by a person whose name was included in a posting about an event asking me to remove her name from the listing. I want to make clear, both to organizations whose events have been or may be listed here and to people who present at these events, that we only list events and information about those events which has been previously made available on other websites (usually the website holding the event, or the individual presenter). We do NOT list from emails, PDFs, or from websites which require passwords. So everything we list is legally public information. People who don't want their names listed with organizations' presentations should inform the organization not to list their name on their website. Also, I need to say that putting together the list of events is very time consuming--both Silver and I work on it-- and often frustrating. If a sufficient number of people and/or organizations don't want their names/events listed here, we will discontinue this feature and spend our time on other matters. Your comments and opinions on this post are sincerely welcome.

Labels: ,