REVIEW: Anthology - She Is Everywhere Vol. 3

She Is Everywhere! An anthology of Writings in Womanist/Feminist Spirituality. Volume 3. Gathered by Mary Saracino and Mary Beth Moser, (iUniverse 2012) 460 pages. Available in softcover, hardcover, and as an e-book.

She is Everywhere, Volume 3, combines essays of significant scholarship with poetry, fiction and art of deep inspiration. This volume focuses on the international community of people who honor the divine or sacred as female. Its contents contain articles not only from many different nationalities, but also from a variety of cultures and religions.

In alphabetical order by last name of contributor, this volume includes: Laura Amazzone, "The Fijian Kava Ceremony: An Ancient Menstrual Ritual?"; Michele Arista, "A Midrash of Rosary Prayers"; Gael Belden, "Soror Mystica: New Myth for a Changing Earth"; Lucia Chiavola Birnbaum, "Story, gifts, standpoint, and methodologies of feminist cultural history"; Nancy Caronia, "Underworld"; Giana Cicchelli, "Journey to the Center," "In the Name of Jesus," and "Resounding Response"; Joanna Clapps-Herman, "Psychic Arrangements," "Potions, Lotions and Solutions"; Lori Coon, "The Dark Goddess"; Randy P. Conner, "Of Diana, Witches, and Fairies"; Nancy Cosgriff, "Hecate," and "Browned Beauty"; Elizabeth Cunningham, "Hymn to Ma of Ephesus" and "Ave Matres"; Max Dashu, "The Meanings of ‘Goddess’," Leslene della-Madre, "The Luminous Dark Mother"; Chickie Farella, "I Love You Mom: Do Me a Favor…Don’t Tell Nobody"; Catlyn Fendler, "The Black Madonna and the Labyrinth"; Jean Feraca, "Crossing the Great Divide," "Mater Dolorosa" and "Nursing My Child Through His First Illness"; Annie Finch, "Goddess," "Moon From the Porch" and "Eve"; Mischa Geracoulis, "Secret Hair"; Tricia Grame, "Beyond The Symbol, VIII" and "Isis"; Mama Donna Henes, "Terra Mater" and "Holy Yoni"; Sheila Marie Hennessy. "Lilith" and "Contemplate Creation"; Theresa Gale Henson, "Finding Ixchel," and "Enough"; Helen Hye-Sook Hwang, "Making the Gyonocentric [sic] Case: Mago, the Great Goddess of East Asia, and Her Tradition Magoism"; Nané Ariadne Jordan, "A Poetics of the Placenta: Placental cosmology as gift and sacred. economy"; Anne Key, "The Stuff of Life: Clay Figurines and Priestesses in Mesoamerica"; Lê Pham Lê, "The Fairy and the Dragon," "Hát River and "Journey to Langbian Mountain"; Glenys Livingstone, "Spelling and Re-Creating Her"; Yvonne M. Lucia: "Black Madonna Cradles the Earth"; Lindy Lyman: "Mother and Daughter/The Forest"; Anne Key, "The Stuff of Life: Clay Figurines and Priestesses in Mesoamerica"; MamaCoAtl, "It is My Heart Who Reminds Me"; Nicole Margiasso-Tran, "Healing Wells and Sacred Fire"; Kathy Martone "Rebirth" and "Gathering Forces"; Judy Maselli, "Connected"; Harita Meenee, "Orphic Mysteries and Goddess(es) of Nature: Greek Hymns Honoring the Divine Feminine."; Etoyla McKee, "Garden Okra"; Mary Beth Moser, "The Motherline: Laundry, Lunedi, and Women’s Lineage"; Andrea Nicki "Vagina Dentata"; Malgorzata Oleszkiewicz-Peralba, "Saint Sara-La-Kali: The Romani Black Madonna"; Luciana Percovich, "Momolina Marconi: An Italian Passionate Scholar of the Goddess"; Shelley R. Reed, "The Red Mother of the Salish Mountains"; Sandy Miranda Robinett, "Sardegnan Nuraghe"; Lydia Ruyle: Three Goddess Icon Spirit Banners: Crow Mother, Isis, Palden Lhamo"; Bridget Saracino, "U Hades nfamiliar," "Anubis" and "Strawberry Lullaby"; Mary Saracino, "The Tarantata," "Holy Mary" and "Sicily"; Lisa Sarasohn, "Lisa & Zeb-un-Nissa" Kristin Shilling, "Puberty," "The China Line" and "Tendrils"; Elisabeth Sikie, "Descent," "Tantra With Beloved"and "Song to Demeter"; David Hatfield Sparks, "The Birth of Xochiquetzal at 948 Noe St."; Solace Wales, "Messages From the Black Madonna"; Claudia von Werlhof, "The Interconnectedness of All Being: A New Spirituality for a New Civilization."

The anthology contains fiction by Mary Saracino and poetry by Lori Coon, Elizabeth Cunningham, Annie Finch, Jean Feraca., Lê Pham Lê, MamaCoAtl; Judy Millard-Maselli, Andrea Nicki. and Elizabeth Sikie. Art includes front cover "Black Madonna Cradles the Earth," by Yvonne M. Lucia and back cover, "Contemplate Creation" by Sheila Marie Hennessy; interior art by Mary Beth Moser, Nicole Marigiasso-Tran; original artwork by Tricia Grame, Lori Coon, Lydia Ruyle, Malgorzata Oleszkiewicz-Peralba, Kathy Martone, Theresa Gale Henson, Shelley R. Reed, Sandy Miranda Robinett, Chris Gordoni, Nané Adriadne Jordan, Lindy Lyman, Sheila Marie Hennessy, and Harita Meenee. A "List of Illustrations" at the beginning of the Table of Contents gives more information on the original media of the artwork.

An unusual statement on the copyright page explains the use of "gathered," rather than "edited"

The gatherers/editors of this anthology do not wish to define an author or define an author’s work by trying to make the text of this anthology consistent in style, grammar, punctuation, etc.

One of the challenges in reviewing anthologies is that usually the contributions are diverse in subject matter, approach, and style, while the number of contributions makes it impractical to review each one. This anthology is no exception. Yet I will try to give you an idea of the variety, breadth, and depth of its contents.

The opening essay, " Healing Wells and Sacred Fire: A Pilgrimage to Brigit’s Land," by Nicole Margiasso-Tran, is a personal story of the author’s journey to Kildare, Ireland, to celebrate the Pagan holiday Brigit/Imbolc and the Catholic Saints Day for St. Brigid with a community of nuns named "Solas Bhride,"which translated from the Celtic into English means "Brigit’s Light (or Flame)." The author also describes visiting Goddess Brigit’s holy places.
This is followed by Max Dashu’s global, scholarly, and for me, inspirational, essay, " The Meanings of ‘Goddess’." Dashu looks at a large number of female deities from a wide variety of cultures and historical periods, including the present. Pointing out the difficulties that some academics (including some feminist academics), and others have with the word and concepts associated with "Goddess," Dashu asserts a wonderfully strong socio-political stance, stating:

The Goddess movement recognizes the political uses of male-supremacist religion, and undermines its dominionist foundations. We challenge theologies that make females stand for the "inferior" material realm, reduce us to sex, decree our submission to male privilege. We repudiate hierarchy of all kinds, including the demonization of matter, of bodies, of darkness in patriarchal religion. We recognize how the twisted ideas of diabolism not only degraded women in the witch hunts, and inculcated hateful ideas about human sexuality, but at the same time demonized dark peoples and indigenous religions.

In addition to "Goddess," Dashu discusses the use of the word. "Mother," writing that in many cultures,"Mother" is synonymous with "Goddess"; that in such cultures "Mother is a truly expansive concept, and a divine one." She also also discusses the roles of ritual and metaphor.

Leslene della-Madre‘s essay,"The Luminous Dark Mother," was sparked by her interest in "the true origins and beginnings of the spiritual life of humankind." Della-Madre equates "Dark Mother" with "Great Mother," and describes her own journeys to find out more about "the African Dark Mother and her relationship to the dark matter of the Universe" (which she also calls the "yoni-verse"). She goes on to relate the Dark Mother to several other scientific theories and discoveries, including for instance, multiple universes, as well as to social and political issues.

Anthology series founder Lucia Chiavola Birnbaum’s contribution to this volume. "Story, gifts, standpoint, and methodologies of feminist cultural history," begins with her explanation about why she doesn’t like capitalization: primarily because it denotes hierarchy. From her usage in this essay, I conclude that this applies to adjectives denoting proper nouns (e.g. chinese food), but not to nouns (e.g. China). This is consistent with capitalization in Romance languages (e.g. French, Spanish, Italian). I’ve also observed that there are languages, such as those in what is today commonly called the Middle East, which don’t capitalize anything. It is unclear to me whether non-capitalization correlates with egalitarianism. OTOH, I like experimentation in language, so why not give it try? Birnbaum moves on to an "Author’s Note" about her

transitioning from teaching in the Women’s Spirituality program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) to another phase of my life....

She also explains that this essay is the "first" chapter of her forthcoming book. Birnbaum, whose ancestry is European Mediterranean, or more specifically, Sicilian, sees feminist cultural history as beginning "in 100,000 BCE in Africa." Her current research focuses on relating this to areas now called Italy, France, and Spain. She then takes up, as an example of steps backward, the important issue of lack of publishers’ openness to work of spiritual feminist scholars, writing of her own experience with her earlier work that included:

the many rejections at the end of the 1990s of my manuscript dark mother, african origins and grandmothers by white male editors in the United States, including two cases of acceptance by women editors at university presses subsequently reversed by white male editors.

Birnbaum then goes into detail about her academic background, affiliations and awards. The essay concludes with a look at the significance of what she understands to be her African-Sicilian ancestry.

At the beginning of her essay, "Lisa & Zeb-un-Nissa," Lisa Sarasohn writes:

She may be everywhere, but if she wants to tag me with clear directive, she’ll snag me at the library or in a book store....The books she chooses for me tip off the shelf, into my hands.

After telling us how the book by a 17^th century Sufi poet came to her and giving details on its physical construction, Sarasohn shows us some of Zeb-un-Nissa’s poems and gives examples of how she, Sarasohn, recrafted them. She explains the ghazal form of poetry, which Zeb-un-Nissa ordered into a diwan, a series of groups of ghazals "ordered according to their rhyme." This clearly and beautifully written essay makes what might be new material for some easily understandable. It is likely to be a particular favorite of those who love books and poetry.

In her scholarly essay about East Asian religion, Helen Hye-Sook Hwang writes that she coined the term "Magoism" to refer to "the organic structure that relates" diverse sources and materials from the ancient "gynocentric cultural and historical context of East Asia, which venerates Mago as supreme divine." Magoism, she says, is both monotheistic and polytheistic. " Mago is the Great Goddess in her multiple manifestations." The essay continues with a detailed description of Magoism.

Lydia Ruyle, whose many Goddess icon banners fly or have flown at libraries and other institutions and at conferences and celebrations, contributes the art and explanations for three of them: Crow Mother, the Hopi Mother of all katsinas (spirits); Isis, Great Mother of Egypt whose worship extends to many other areas, shown in this banner with her son Horus; and Palden Lhamo, "fierce protectress of Tibet and the Dalai Lama." Ruyle writes:

The only thanka, prayer flag, which the Dalai Lama took with him when he fled the Chinese takeover of Tibet in 1959, was Palden Lhamo. Since then, she travels with him whever he goes.

Malgorzata Oleszkiewicz-Peralba’s essay about, "Saint Sara-La-Kali" begins with two quotes, regarding the relationship of blackness with light or radiance. Oleszkiewicz-Peralba then goes on to discuss the "black madonna" honored by many Romani (sometimes called Roma or the Rom, and sometimes called "gypsies." a term generally considered incorrect by the Rom). The author says that Sara-La-Kali is "possibly a blend of the Catholic Virgin Mary and the Indian goddess Kali/Durga/Sara, and describes the yearly celebration of Sara-La-Kali in the French town of Les Saintes Maries de la Mer. She relates the possibly historical but at this point unverifiable story of Mary Magdalene arriving with family and friends by boat to southern France, discusses the role of the Cathars, and the long intermingling of Egyptian and French deity worship, takes a look at various theories and legends about the identity of the human Sara and includes details of the Romani migration from India to Persia in 250-650 CE, and then through Europe, including 600 years of slavery in Romania. She notes that today, Sara-La-Kali’s "cult" persists not only in Europe but also in the Americas and Australia. The author describes the relationship of Sara-La-Kali to other goddesses who are nurturing, protectors of childbirth, and often located in grottos, caves, near or in the sea or other bodies of water. With several photos the author took while visiting sites in France.

This essay is followed by a group of meditations by Solace Wales, inspired by visits to Black Madonna sites.

Anne Key’s essay, "The Stuff of Life: Clay Figurines and Priestesses in Mesoamerica." examines the "gap" between the Mesoamerican artifacts and other materials she has seen at various sites in the field and Mesoamerican materials included in museum exhibits. She goes on to present what she has found to be the role of women spiritual leaders in Mesoamerica.

Laura Amazzone’s "The Fijian Kava Ceremony: An Ancient Menstrual Ritual?"explores the kava ceremony on Fiji, where the population is now predominantly Christian, but where there still remains remnants of a culture that included ancestor worship, spirit possession, and "ingestion of consciouness-altering substances," of which kava is one. Amazzone writes that although kava is known to induce menstruation, today only men participate in the kava ceremony. She presents information and theory about whether this was always the case.

Mary Beth Moser likes to hang her laundered clothes to dry on a clothesline outdoors. "The Motherline" includes her remembrances of clotheslines past, combined with the honoring of the Goddess Tanit. With photos of her Tanit clothesline and a sacred well she discusses in this essay.

Nané Ariadne Jordan, begins her essay, "A Poetics of the Placenta," with a "Prelude" about her paternal grandmother. She then tells about her experience as a lay midwife/doula including the medical, symbolic, and possible ritual significance of the placenta and its possible uses after the baby is born. She also proposes a cosmology and economy based on the birth process.

Donna Henes' essay, "Holy Yoni," is a remarkable tour de source of sex in Goddess religions. Beginning with the metaphor of Earth as our mother, continuing through a discussion of the role of women in early "Earth-identified societies," Henes goes on the discuss the significance of women's primary and secondary sex characteristics in symbolism, language, architecture, ritual, and other aspects of a variety Goddess-venerating cultures over the centuries.

Harita Meenee’s essay on "Orphic Mysteries and Goddesses" discusses the Orphic Hymns, a collection of 87 poems used in rituals of the Orphic Mystieries, in which goddesses were prominent. She speculates on the role of women in the Mysteries and then quotes the "Orphic Hymn to Nature."

The book's last essay, Glenys Livingstone’s "Spelling and Recreating Her," begins:

"Goddess," as I understand the term, is the Female Metaphor for the Great Creative Principle of the Universe. As such, She is both the Matrix and a wholistic template of Being: that is, She is whole and complete within Herself....there is no need to masculinize certain of Her qualities, though she includes qualities that have been termed "masculine."

Livingstone defines the three aspects of Goddess as Virgin/Maiden, Mother/Creator, and Crone/Old One. She writes that they may be but are not necessarily limited by age association, and responds to those who maintain that three aspects are insufficient. She also discusses the Triple Spiral and its symbolism, as well as the symbolic and scientific role of the Moon. Livingstone then moves on to other thealogical and cosmological concepts, integrating science and thealogy as she draws from authors Thomas Berry and Brian Swimme. She also explores the meaining of body/embodiment, especially of the female body, and its relevance to the indigenous spirituality of Australia, where she lives.

The essays are footnoted or endnoted and have bibliographies.

She is Everywhere Volume 3 is likely to be a valuable text for college courses in women’s studies, gender studies, religion, sociology, and probably some other subjects I haven’t thought of. I would also expect it to be useful in adult groups studying Goddess and other spiritual feminisms. It will also be useful to individuals studying on their own, especially those looking for material that cannot be easily found elsewhere. For more information on this book and other volumes in this anthology series, visit sheiseverywhere.net

Buzz Coil: May 2012

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

Blog 'o Gnosis: In her May 2 post,"Small Brown Seed," Anne Hill shares thoughts about this time of year and an audio of the song by the same name that she recorded a few years ago. It really sounded great on my computer speakers!

Alchemy of Clay: In her May 23 post, "weather notes," Barbara Rogers shows and discusses her sculpture of Gaia that morphed into Lucia in a lovely flowery setting.

Amused Grace:  Working up to J in her journey through the alphabet, in her May 11 post  J Is For Jasasara, Thalia Took writes about the Goddess Jasasara, who she says you probably know, even if you think you don't.

My Village Witch: Byron Ballard's "The Village Witch" blog on an Asheville NC newspaper site has morphed into her very own blog. Among her at-least-as-wonderful-as-before first posts are, beginning on May 22, 3 posts about Pagan Unity Festival 2012. May 23 post tells about My First Class at the Fest. Her May 26 post, Pagan Unity Fest–another bright day  compresses two day's events into a short but sweet story.

A Quaker Witch: Stasa Morgan-Appel reports, in 2 posts, on the Pagan Federation Scotlands Annual Conference. The first post on May 19 is about a transforming experience at a workshop: Margot Adler's "Amazing Grace," without shame. The second post on May 22, answers the question "So, how did the Conference go??"

HecateDemeter has a two-part (so far) series on aspects of magic. The first part,The Art of Magic , posted on May 19,  is mostly about art and visualization. The Art of Magic — Part the Second, posted on May 20, continues with a lovely pic, an intriguing quote, and some questions for you.

Works of Literata: Blogger Literata, in her May 26 post, exclaims, I’m ordained! and tells about her ordination as a high priestess through the Order of the White Moon. In her May 14 post, Literata explains "Why Feminists Have Better Sex," and points out how ignorance about female anatomy can lead to absurd statements in erotica and diminish pleasure in real life.

The House of Inanna: Idris has returned to his blog and this May has written a number of posts about sexuality. For example, his May 9 post, "Sex Addiction?". begins with his evaluation of a study which claims that sex can change the brain, and moves on to question whether sex addiction, gambling addiction, and food addiction are legitimate terms.  His May 15 post, "Of Inanna, Sex and Poetry," explores various religions' approaches to sex.

Feminism and Religion: Among this month's posts by many bloggers on a variety of paths are:
"Green Solutions to the Greek Economic Crisis, " posted May 28 by Carol P. Christ, who is running in the Greek national elections on the Green Party ticket. On May 21, in a post titled,
"She Who Changes," Christ shares some of insights from her book of the same name.

Prodded by the latter post, Xochitl Alvizo, on May 23, posted, "How Does Goddess Change the World?" in which she quotes  "a favorite little passage I love from a Catholic theologian, Gerard Lohfink, who wrote a book about whether God needs the church." 

"Still Practicing Her Presence,"  posted May 27 by Barbara Ardinger, gives some tips on how to increase Goddess focus. With two videos of familiar Goddess chants.

Vatican Lays a Cunning Trap for American Nuns, a May 26 post by Mary Johnson explores the issues and history surrounding the current tensions between the Vatican and women religious, especially American nuns.

The Wild Hunt: In his May 23 post, "Winnemem Wintu Tribe Plan Civil Disobedience," Jason Pitzl-Waters reports on the Wintu Tribe's actions of civil disobedience to protest their being unable to properly hold their traditional young women's coming-of-age ceremony.

Way of the Rabbit: Yeshe Rabbit's May 24 post, Blessings of Isis upon Loreon Vigne! profiles the leader of the Temple of Isis at Isis Oasis Sanctuary in Geyserville, California, who will turn 80 on June 8.

Communing With Goddess: Jennifer "Jay" Bull gives some advice to "certain" feminist writers in her May 13 post, " Dear Feminist Spiritual Writers – Start Writing Accessibly." I need to say that I don't agree with all her preferences. But it makes for interesting reading.

Note: Because I am planning to have cataract surgery in about a month, I may not be recovered enough to write a Buzz Coil next month. Actually I can't see very well right now, so please excuse any typos.

Goddess Book Receives 2 Awards

My most recent book, Goddess Matters: the Mystical, Practical & Controversial, has just received finalist awards in both the "Spirituality" and "Women's Issues" categories of the International Book Awards 2012. For reviews, excerpts, and other info, see judithlaura.com/gm.html
  

Goddess Pages: Spring Issue

The Spring 2012 issue of Goddess Pages has been published. This issue's cover,  "Reaching Out" by Jill Smith, relates to her article, described below.

 Articles include: Ancient Tantric Goddess Worship - Past and Present by André Zsigmond, which begins in India  at Vasant Panchami, the Hindu festival celebrating the end of the winter; Be your own Herbal Expert: Part 1 by Susun S Weed. which gives the basics on using herbs for health purposes, including safety issues; Excerpts from Goddess in the Grass: Serpentine Mythology and the Great Goddess by Linda Foubister, material from Foubister's ebook; Goddess Destinations by Dr. Rev. Karen Tate, a discussion of sacred sites around the world;  Misogyny on Parade as told to Katara Moon (written in the persona of Baubo Biggins), a light touch with serious intent to the serious subject of growing anti-woman attitudes and actions in American politics;  My Quest for the Amazon Woman of Hirte by Jill Smith, who takes us with her as she searches an area west of Scotland.

There is also fiction, Loving Brynhild - Part 7 from Clarise Samuels' novel. Poetry includes Wake Robin by Annelinde Metzner; Burning Times by Sheila Rose Bright; and Reunion and Persephone by Judith Laura (oui, c'est moi). Reviews include BBC2's documentary series, "Divine Women", reviewed by Rachael Clyne; and The Bearded Goddess: Androgynes, Goddess and Monsters in Ancient Cyprus, by Marie-Louise Winbladh, reviewed by Geraldine Charles. 

Events Coil: May 22 - June 30

As far 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 unless otherwise noted. Events lasting more than 1 day are bolded. When listing events for the same date we try 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 and events that occur on a regular day each month or week are listed after the dated events. 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.
 
May 22, 7 p.m., New Moon Creativity Sharing Circle, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury ENGLAND

May 25, 7:30 p.m., Embodiment of Rhiannon, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury ENGLAND

May 26, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. How to Dance with the Goddess: For Men, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, The Camino, Glastonbury ENGLAND

May 25-28, Sacred Fire Circle, Circle Sanctuary, near Barneveld WI

June 2, 13:00-16:00, Cercle de Tambours de Dea, l'Ordre de Dea, Montreal, PQ, CANADA

June 2, Noon-2 p.m., Decorating for Summer Solstice, Goddess Temple of Orange County, Irvine CA

June 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Ceremonial Healing Day, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury, ENGLAND

June 4, time tba,  Full Moon Celebration, Maetreum of Cybele, Palenville NY

June 4, time tba, Celebrate Artemis, Daughters of the Goddess, San Francisco CA

June 4, 6 p.m. meet in guest house, 8 p.m. ceremony in Temple, Full Moon Ceremony, Temple of Goddess Spirituality Dedicated to Sekhmet, Indian Springs NV

June 5, 7:30 p.m.Circle of Craft, Goddess Temple of Orange County, Irvine CA

June 9-10, Goddess Groove, Isis Oasis, Geyersville CA

June 9, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Welcome Summer Festival, Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Mt. Horeb WI

June 9, 6 p.m. Full Moon Circle, Sisterhood of the Sacred Circle, Carson City NV

June 16, time tba, "Lady of Ten Thousand Names: Songs of the Goddesses," with Annelinde Metzner, The Light Center, near Black Mountain NC

June 16, time tba, Summer Solstice, East Bay Caya Coven, San Francisco CA

June 15-17, The Sacred Feminine Retreat with Leslene della-Madre, Jackson Wellsprings/Ashland Goddess Temple, Ashland OR

June 16-17, Summer Solstice Weekend Celebration, Maetreum of Cybele, Palenville NY  

June 17-24, Pagan Spirit Gathering and Summer Solstice Celebration, Circle Sanctuary, Stonehouse Park, near Earlville IL

June 17, time tba, Zomer Zonnewende Ceremonie, Nederlandse Godinnen Tempel, Hillegom NEDERLAND

June 17, gather 11:30 a.m., ritual Noon, Litha/Summer Solstice, Connect DC, Washington DC

June 17. Doors open 3:30, ritual begins 4pm. Litha, North Bay Reclaiming, Sebastopol CA

June 17, 5:30 p.m., 6th Annual Yoni Puja Festival (RSVP), Sharanya, San Francisco CA

June 18, time tba, Discovering the Divine Essence of the Goddess, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury ENGLAND

June 19, 2-4 p.m. New Moon Healing, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury ENGLAND

June 19, meet at guest house 6 p.m., Circle, 8 p.m.,Women's New Moon Circle, Temple of Goddess Spirituality Dedicated to Sekhmet, Indian Springs NV

June 19, time tba, Celebrate Summer Solstice and Goddess Vesta, Daughters of the Goddess, San Francisco CA

June 20, 7 p.m., Midsummer, Temple of Goddess Spirituality Dedicated to Sekhmet, Indian Springs NV

June 20, gather 7:30, ritual 8 p.m. Litha, SF Reclaiming Ocean Beach, San Francisco CA

June 21, 7:30 p.m. Summer Solstice Ceremony, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury ENGLAND

June 22, 7 p.m. Winter Solstice Celebration, Pagaian Moon Court, Blue Mountains AUSTRALIA

June 22, 9:30 a.m. Méditation du Labyrinthe pour le solstice d'été, Le Temple de la Déesse, Chartres Cathedrale Notre Dame, Chartres, FRANCE

June 22-24.  Summer Solstice Retreat for Women, Sisterhood of the Sacred Circle,  High Sierras NV

June 23, 3 p.m. Summer Solstice Fun, Mother Grove Goddess Temple, Asheville NC

June 23, 6:30 p.m. Summer Solstice, Circle of Aradia, Topanga CA

June 23-24, Le Solstice D'été,  Le Temple de la Déesse, Toulouse FRANCE 

June 30, 7:30 p.m. Moon Lodge, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Glastonbury ENGLAND

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. 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.
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 Goddesses being honored, guest speakers, and other information about individual services; Wednesdays 6-8 p.m. "Spiritual Services: Goddesses and Heroes," Spiritual Life Club, . Saturdays 12-5 p.m. Temple Open for Women's Meditation, 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, Sundays 10:30 a.m. Liturgy of the Divine Feminine; Wednesdays 7 p.m. Goddess Rosary Meditation Ebenezer/HerChurch Lutheran .
Seattle WA, 2nd Sunday, doors open 10 a.m., Goddess Service 10:30 a.m., Gaia's Temple.
Staten Island NY, closest Saturday to full moon 7 p.m. Women's Full Moon Drumming; 3rd Saturday 7 p.m. Goddess devotional service; Goddess Temple of Staten Island.

ONLINE, WORLD WIDE WEB
Course: "Celebrating Cosmogenesis," for people in both Southern and Northern Hemispheres, with Australian author Glenys Livingstone, originates in NSW, Australia. Join online at any time.
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.
Podcasts: Tuesday 8 p.m. CT, Circle Craft with Selena Fox, Circle Sanctuary, Blog Talk Radio

We would 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. 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 email addresses. People should go to the website for that info. 

Memorial Services for De-Anna Alba (1952-2012)

This information is derived from an email newsletter from Circle Sanctuary, which Selena Fox asked be shared:

An interfaith memorial service for Pagan author, elder, and priestess De-Anna Alba, also known as Wendy White, will be held Saturday, May 12 at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Incarnation (Episcopal), 550 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, California. Selena Fox, senior minister of Circle Sanctuary, will give the eulogy and be one of the officiants.

A Pagan Memorial Service and cremains interment will be held July 21 at Circle Sanctuary in Wisconsin.

De-Anna Alba died on January 24 of complications of breast cancer. She was one of Circle Sanctuary's first priestesses and was Circle Sanctuary's first church secretary. She assisted Selena Fox with publications, events, music, networking, and other endeavors, and was part of the Pagan Spirit Gathering during its formative years.

You can share memories. tributes, etc. on this Circle Sanctuary page.