The Sacred Glen
Volume #1 Issue #3
July 2007
The Sacred Glen is a publication of Daughters of the Greening online school. All articles within this ezine are written by students of the school and are their own personal property, unless otherwise credited. Daughters of the Greening is dedicated to teaching about the sacredness of all life and offers classes in Sacred Ecology, Holistic Healing, Discovering Past Lives, Faery Magic and Women's Spirituality. The school is open to anyone who is 18 years of age or older.
The Sacred Glen Council
Morgana Ravenwings
Dryw
Stephanie Mayfield
Anarane
Belou
Susan Allen
In this issue:
Sacred Days of the Ancestors
The Goddess Speaks
A Moment of Respite
Gaia's Resources for Health
Morgana’s Musings
Animal Medicine
Call of the Wild: Modern Men and Paganism
Garden of Eatin'
Spider Woman's Web
Sacred Days of the Ancestors
July 2007
7/1: Day endangered species became internationally protected (1975); day to celebrate all the world's creatures.
7/2: Visitation Day--Christian feast marking St. Elizabeth's recognition of Blessed Mary's divine destiny as catalyst for human liberation and redemption.
7/6 (8:00 p.m. EDT): Earth Aphelion--when the Earth is farthest from the Sun.
7/7: Mindfulness Day--Zen Buddhist day for being mindful that lineation and hunger for possessions results from ignorance of interconnectedness.
7/11: World Population Day--Day to meditate on the social and environmental costs of overpopulation.
7/13: Baha'i feast honoring the one Deity as Kalimat - Sacred Words.
7/13 to 7/15: Obon--Zen Buddhist festival honoring departed ancestors.
7/14 (8:04 a.m. EDT): New Moon.
7/14 (A 8/24): Old Egyptian birthday feast of Neter Osiris – partner and true love of Isis, and father of Horus; guide of all husbands, fathers, and judges.
7/14 to 7/17: Iroquois Green Corn Ceremony--in thanksgiving for the maize harvest.
7/14 to 7/25 (I 7/19): Old Norse/Icelandic Mid-Summer Althingi--Community gathering for democratic decision making. Forseti and Tyr, Gods of Justice and Self-Sacrifice, were honored.
7/14 eve to 8/19 eve (7/28 peak): Delta Aquarid Meteor Showers.
7/15 eve to 7/16 eve: Hekatombaion Noumenia/Old Athenian New Year—Old Greek festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses.
7/17 (A 8/27): Old Egyptian birthday feast of Neteret Isis – partner and true love of Osiris, and mother of Horus; guide of all wives, mothers, healers, advocates, and teachers.
7/19: Day women demanded recognition of their equality to men in the legal, political, economic, religious, and domestic spheres (Seneca Falls, New York 1848).
7/20 to 8/2 (A 8/30 to 9/12): Old Egyptian festival marking the return to Egypt of Neteret Isis, Neter Osiris, and the rains that inundate the Nile River.
7/22: Christian feast of St. Mary Magdalen, disciple and priestess--Savior Jesus made her His priestess by purifying her seven times; she anointed Him in preparation for His sacrifice and witnessed His torture, death, and resurrection.
7/23: Beginning of Leo (the Lion/Lioness) .
7/23: Mayan Sun Festival--honoring Sun God Ahau Kin; celebrated with devotional offerings of food, song, prayer, and a ritual procession that symbolically travels to the four quarters of the universe.
7/23 eve to 7/24 eve: Tish'a B'Av--Jewish fast day mourning the destruction of the Temples dedicated to God-Goddess Yahweh (Adonai-Shekhina) .
7/25 to 8/1: Mahayana Buddhist festival of Tara/Kuan Yin/Kannon, Supreme Goddess of Nature and Perfect Buddha of many emanations; celebrates Her enlightenment and Her vow to help all sentient beings.
7/26: Christian feast of St. Anna, mother of Blessed Mary and grandmother of Blessed Jesus; guide of grandmothers and elderly women.
7/28 eve to 7/30 eve: Feast of Father Sky--honoring God as Obatala (Yoruba/Santeria) , Ouranos (Old Greek), Svarog (Old Slavic), Thor (Old Norse), Taranis (Old Celtic), Dyaus (Hindu), An (Old Sumerian) & El-Elyon (Old Canaanite-Hebrew) .
7/29 (8:48 p.m. EDT): Full Moon (Grain-Harvest/ Thunder Moon).
7/29 eve to 8/17 eve (8/12 peak): Perseid Meteor Showers.
7/30 eve to 7/31 eve: Synoikia--Old Greek festival celebrating the peaceful cooperation of states. Offerings were made to Aphrodite and Eirene, Goddesses of friendship and peace.
7/31 eve to 8/2 eve: Lughnasadh.
7/31 eve to 8/2 eve: Feast of the Grain Harvest.
7/31 eve to 8/7 eve: Mid-Summer/First Harvest/Lammas.
THE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2007
A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality
© 2006 Page Two, Inc.
info@WheeloftheYear.com
www.WheeloftheYear.com
Other Holidays
(submitted by Belou)
July 1: Canada Day
July 2: Visitation of Our Lady
July 3: Seminole Green Corn Dance
July 5: Sun Dance Festival
July 7: Feast of Juno
July 8: St. Elizabeth's Day
July 10: Pilgrimage of Saut d' eau
July 11: Feast of Min
July 12:Yatra
July 13: Obon Festival begins, Reed Dance Day
July 13: Bastille Day
July 15: Obon Festival ends
July 16: Our Lady of Carmel
July 17: Amaterasu (Sun Goddess), Birthday of Isis
July 18: Birthday of Nephthys
July 19: Egyptian New Year
July 20: Binding of the Wreaths
July 21: Mayan New Year
July 22: Choctaw Festival
July 23: Egyptian Dog Days
July 24: Simon Bolivar's birthday
July 26: Hopi Kachina Dance, Feast of St. Anne
July 28: Peruvian Independence Day
July 29: St. Martha's Day
July 31: Lammas Eve
The Goddess Speaks
Kuan Yin
“She who hears the cries of the world”, better known as Kuan Yin, is the Chinese Goddess of Compassion. In China , She is not considered a Goddess at all, but rather a Bodhisattva- --an individual who after having attained enlightenment decides to postpone their own bliss until they are able to help every other creature attain enlightenment. Kuan Yin is the one who hears prayers, answers petitions, and runs to those in danger or crying for help. She is a friend, an intercessor, the incarnation of compassion, and the most widely worshiped Deity in Asia . Her temples are often found along rivers or at the seashore. Most frequently they are women's temples, where groups of women will stop on their way home and offer incense or other offerings to the gracious Bodhisattva. She is the embodiment of the Divine Feminine, and her chief attribute is unwavering compassion. She is reluctant to punish even those who deserve it, being extremely sensitive to the day to day situations humans find themselves in. When called upon, she intervenes with Divine Aid. All one must do is speak her name, meditate near her shrine or place flowers on her altar. It is said that she can appear in as many as thirty three different forms in order to help those who cry out to her. Among those forms are a nun, the wife of a householder, of a Brahman, an official, or a laywoman and simply a girl. Kuan Yin becomes what we need her to be, at exactly the time that we need Her.
For centuries in China , people recounted the story of Princess Miao-shan, said to be the first incarnation of Kuan Yin and who became the thousand-armed Kuan Yin found through-out Asia . It is said that Miao-shan's father tried to marry her off in order to find an heir among his sons-in-law, having no sons of his own. Miao-shan however refused to marry, instead being strongly drawn to Buddhism and desiring to devote her life to this faith. Her father became greatly angered by her refusal and she was sent to a nunnery where she was given forced labor and other tests, trying to dissuade her from this lifestyle. The Princess persevered, and the father became so angry that he burned down the nunnery, killing the 500 nuns inside and had Miao-shan put to death for her refusal to obey him. It was in her spirit form that Miao-shan achieved enlightenment, and even aided the recovery of her own father from a serious illness. After doing this, her father's eyes were opened to see who she was and he converted to Buddhism. Miao-shan then changed into her own true form, the Thousand eyed and Thousand armed Kuan Yin.
Calling on Kuan Yin
We can call upon Kuan Yin by chanting her name. Begin with making an altar devoted to the Bodhisattva. This can be a windowsill, a dresser top, or even a box, as long as it is dressed to be beautiful and contains a statue of Kuan Yin. Meditate daily before this altar, spending time quieting the mind. Then begin to chant 'Namo Kuan shih Yin P' u-Sa” (Hail to Kuan Shih Yin Bodhisattva) . Begin chanting slowly, gradually adding crescendo. Allow the chant to grow in intensity, and then stop suddenly. It is said that the silence that follows is greater than the silence of meditation before, and that in this silence can be found the beauty of Kuan Yin. Try this practice for a week and notice the difference in your life.
Another Buddhist practice for connecting with Kuan Yin is visualization. For this, again sit before your Kuan Yin altar, quieting your mind. With your inner eyes, see before you the velvety black of nothingness. Slowly, see a moon rising in this darkness. See and feel it's beauty, and feel comforted by it. Watch the moon become smaller and smaller until it becomes a pearl that is so bright it almost hurts to look at it. Now watch the pearl begin to grow again. Larger and larger and suddenly you realize that it is not a pearl at all, but Kuan Yin herself..... gleaming white, in long white flowing robes, standing against the backdrop of blackness with her feet resting on a lotus. Concentrate until you can see her with great clarity and you will find that she is smiling at you and so happy to see you and that you see her that tears are glistening in her eyes. If you whisper her name very softly, you will be able to see her for a very long time. When she departs, she simply gets smaller and smaller until she disappears. Try this exercise and journal about your feelings afterwards. This is a very powerful visualization.
Whenever you find yourself in danger, or in an uncomfortable situation, call upon Kuan Yin quickly by saying:
“I call upon the Bodhisattva who sees and hears the cries of the world!”
Immediately Kuan Yin will come to your aid, and you will feel her presence in the calming of your breath and your heartbeat. She responds immediately and this compassion for our situations is what has made her the most greatly loved Goddess in Asia and any other country where her followers have traveled to.
For more information on Kuan Yin, see the wonderful article written by Wren in our Goddess Gallery at:
http://www.daughter softhegreening. com/kuanyin. html
By Morgana Ravenwings
*Note about our artist
Leylie Myhre has been dealing with a serious medical condition. Until he is better able to cope with his illness, his original artwork will be on a temporary hold. I will include pieces from my personal collection where they fit. Please add Leylie to your prayer bowls or energy lists that he may develop a sense of peace in dealing with this illness. Thank you. ~ Susan Allen
A Moment of Respite
Your Home, Your Respite
By Morgana Ravenwings
Home is where the heart is. It is our place of refuge from the outside world. A place where we can be ourselves, and relax. However, if our home is tense or full of negativity and arguing, our mental state will be affected as will all other areas of our life. Having a happy and peaceful home should be high on everyone's list of priorities. Here are some ways to ensure that yours is!!
Magical Ways to Ensure a Happy and Peaceful Home
1.Keep elder leaves and berries in a bowl to ensure happiness and peace.
2.Leave a bouquet of primroses on your doorstep overnight to invite the blessings of the Fae on your home. They will bless you with happiness, luck and prosperity.
3.Sprinkle flaxseed over the threshold to preserve harmony.
4.Burn the essential oils of aloe, white camphor and myrrh, or coriander, chamomile and spearmint in a burner to encourage tranquility.
5.Place dried Motherwort (Leonurus Cardiaca) in a jar and surround it with family pictures or place it in a charm bag and hang over the threshold.
6.Make an infusion of basil, pour it into a bucket and scrub your floors with it. Plant basil at each entry way and a pot growing inside sure won't hurt!!
7.Sprinkle powdered dulse around the home to bring sweetness to the atmosphere.
8.Hang boughs of fresh yarrow around the house to banish sadness and negativity.
Enjoy your happy homes!!
Gaia's Resources for Health
The Sacral Chakra
By Belou
The Sacral Chakra is associated with the qualities of movement and flow of energy. It's located below the navel and above the pubic bone. It is also referred to as the "Spleen", "Sacral" , and "Abdominal
chakra". In Sanskrit it is referred to as the "Svadistanna" and is also known as the "Sacred Chakra" or the "Navel" Chakra. It is connected to the sensuality of touch and the innocent desire for pleasure and nonjudgmental, spontaneous enjoyment. It is associated with the organs within the lower abdomen, especially the large intestine and reproductive organs, and with the kidneys.
Signs of malfunctioning: A lack of orange energy: physical rigidity, restricted feelings, digestive disorders, lack of focus, lack of vitality, being stuck in the past holding on to memories, impotence, problems with uterus, bladder or kidneys, and a stiff lower back. It is associated with feelings of inadequacy, possessiveness, jealousy and envy, and self regret on all levels. Anti-social behaviors, lustfulness, selfishness and arrogance all stem from an imbalance in this Chakra center. Other emotions connected with it are the need to control, violence, thoughtlessness, hatred, despair, of the future, victimization, masochism, entimentalism, and consumerism the need for more material things.
Some key Characteristics for The Sacral Chakra
*The color is orange
*This chakra represents the plant kingdom
*The mantra is "Vamor O" as in the word home
*The musical note is D
*The element is water
*Sense of taste
*Associated with the spleen in men/uterus in women
*sacrament of Matrimony union
*In women, this chakra spins right, spins left from men.
*It is located about 2-3 inches below the navel and in the center of the body.
Affirmations for the month
By Belou
Practice one or all of the following affirmations 30 times a day for 30 days. These affirmations help to build up the energy around you and within the Universe to manifest these desired changes in your life.
My faith moves mountains every single day.
I am centred in my truth and my power.
I attract prosperity and success with all of my ideas.
I trust Spirit to guide and lead me on my path.
Everywhere I go, people are drawn to my dynamic personality.
Morgana’s Musings
What is a Priestess?
By Morgana Ravenwings
The Priestess is the representative of the Goddess on earth. She has responsibility for performing functions that ensure fertility and creation. In ancient times, Priestesses were responsible for ensuring rain, for the Goddess Herself was the giver of the dew and the rain. It is said the the Priestesses of Isis could control the rain by braiding and unbraiding their hair. In many cultures these women also tended a sacred flame. This flame was the embodiment of the chi, or the creative spark of life that flows from the Goddess and through each one of us.
The High Priestess is the embodiment of the Great Goddess herself. This Goddess is expressed as Isis (Egyptian), Kuan Yin (Chinese), Mary (Christian), Artemis (Greek), Spider Mother (Cherokee), Rhiannon (Celtic) and in many other guises in many other cultures. The Great Goddess is all-knowing and all-wise. She is Creatress and Life-giver. She also has the power to end life so that the true spark of life, or spirit, may continue on in other forms. The High Priestess embodies these principles. She is the reminder that we all have this innate wisdom within us, and she demands that we connect to it and bring this wisdom into the world. The High Priestess speaks for the Goddess, works for the Goddess and lives her life to bring honor to the name of the Goddess. The Goddess is first and foremost in her mind, before family, friends, job and all else. She knows that she IS the Goddess and every decision that she makes, every meeting that she has, every word from her mouth comes from this place of inner knowing and reflects out to the world.
There are many today who will take a course or two in Wicca and bestow upon themselves (or have bestowed upon them by someone with just as much training as themselves) the title of Priestess or High Priestess. I love seeing this wide resurgence of interest in Her religion, and I love seeing the multitudes of those who are thirsty to aid others on the path of discovery. However, true training in becoming a Priestess is not as easy as Wicca 101 and an e-certificate hanging on the wall. Priestess training has never come this easy, nor should it. Anyone can work magic, or memorize a list of colors and their attributes. Anyone can say prayers, learn the meaning of tarot cards and make potions. None of these things a Priestess make.
Priestess training involves a change in who we are at the very depth of our being. It touches something deep inside that changes everything we have thought about ourselves. It changes everything we have thought about others. Priestess training gives us a higher perspective. It gives us the perspective of the Goddess Herself. It is rigorous, and should be. What good is a Priestess who has no self-discipline? How can one who cannot even control herself and her own natural human urges (to strike out in anger, to gossip, or become lazy, etc) teach someone else to control theirs? The spiritual path is a path of personal discipline. And in the discipline comes freedom. This is the ultimate paradox. Self-discipline brings freedom. When we are busy gossiping about someone, we are being drawn into the energy of that conversation. We are sending out bad energy to the person we are gossiping about, and in turn we are ensuring that we will have that bad energy returned to us, for what is sown shall surely be reaped....a spiritual principle. When we have overcome our urge to gossip through self-discipline, and remove ourselves from this type of situation, we set ourselves free from the energy entanglements associated with it. Thus, disciplining our urges brings freedom to our soul.
Self-discipline and inner knowing do not come easily. They come from many long nights and sometimes years of struggling to know who we really are and to understand what it is we are here for. They come from spiritual searching and the asking of questions, from taking vows and sticking to them and from establishing a daily spiritual practice. THIS is Priestess training. This is spiritual discipline, and this is what makes us able to become representatives of the Great Goddess Herself.
White Moon studies are a 13 month course in Priestess training, at the end of which students may go on to become High Priestesses through more training. These lessons change lives. They teach students to find out who they really are, what they really think and feel, and they give them the courage to begin to stand up for that. They teach and encourage self-discipline. They raise self-esteem and empower women to be able to stand up and say “I am Goddess”. White Moon studies speak to the core of who we are, and make us strong women. This is what Priestess training should involve. A change in the student at the very core of their being, and this is what White Moon studies deliver. White Moon has several branches of which Daughters of the Greening is one. Other branches and teachers can be found here:
http://www.orderwhitemoon.org/schools.html
If you are interested in Priestess training, and feel that you are able to make that commitment, please contact one of the White Moon High Priestesses to begin. You will not regret it.
Dove
The Dove is a bird with a wealth of legend surrounding it, mostly pertaining to feminine values and mother symbols. In ancient Greece, Doves were used as messengers in the temples of the Goddess. Aphrodite was said to have been born from an egg that had been brooded by a dove. The early Christians saw the Dove as a symbol of the Holy Spirit, or the Holy Mother to the Gnostics. Its color of white symbolized purity, and because everywhere it was associated with Goddesses, it came to be considered the embodiment of the feminine and maternal instinct. The Dove was a sacred bird to Kuan Yin, and the Pueblo Indians also gave it a place of great honor, using its feathers for prayer sticks.
Doves mate for life. This is the reason they are mostly seen in pairs. When their mate is killed or dies naturally, the other Dove will remain alone. This speaks to us of being faithful, not necessarily to another person, but to ourselves. It speaks of seeking a balance within our lives, and sticking with that balance no matter what adversities come our way. It speaks of being true to our feminine nature of nurturing and peacefulness. Sometimes it teaches us to take time out for solitude, but to remember that we are not one-sided beings. We are both male and female, masculine and feminine, and only by finding that within ourselves will we be able to truly become who we are meant to be.
The Dove is also strongly associated with the Moon and with prophecy. Its song is a reminder that even though there may be times in our lives where we must mourn, afterwards will come renewal, just as the Moon renews herself each month. Dove brings a deeper perspective to our lives, causing us to stop and ponder, to wonder and to feel things that normally do not come to the surface so readily in our busy lives. She speaks to us telling us to mourn what has passed, but to look forward to the rebirth that must follow. Dove is a bird of hope.
By Morgana Ravenwings
Call of the Wild: Modern Men and Paganism
Anubis (Anpu)
By Belou
Anubis (is an) Egyptian god of the dead, represented as a black jackal or dog, or as a man with the head of a dog or jackal. His parents were usually given as Re in combination with either Isis or Nephthys or. After the early period of the Old Kingdom, he was superseded by Osiris as god of the dead, being relegated to a supporting role as a god of the funeral cult and of the care of the dead. The black colour represented the colour of human corpses after they had undergone the embalming process. In the Book of the Dead, he was depicted as presiding over the weighing of the heart of the deceased in the Hall of the Two Truths. In his role as psychopomp he was referred to as the "conductor of souls". The Greeks later identified him with their god Hermes, resulting in the composite deity Hermanubis. His principal sanctuary was at the necropolis in Memphis and in other cities. Anubis was also known as Khenty- Imentiu - "chief of the westerners" - a reference to the Egyptian belief that the realm of the dead lay to the west in association with the setting sun, and to their custom of building cemeteries on the west bank of the Nile.
Garden of Eatin’
Ratatouille (not the new Pixar movie) (new)
Submitted by Dryw
This is one of my family's favorite summer recipes as a side dish.
Ingredients:
2 Tbs olive oil
2 cloves garlick, crushed and minced
1 large onion ( I use red sweet) quartered and thinly sliced
1 small eggplant, cut into cubes
2 green bell peppers chopped into med. chunks
2 cans diced Italian tomatoes (or 3-4 large diced fresh tomatoes)
4 or 5 sliced small zucchini and/or yellow crook neck squash ( I use both together)
1 tsp dried leaf basil
1/2 tsp dried leaf oregano
1/4 tsp dried leaf thyme OR
2 Tbs. dried Italian seasoning.
A couple Tbs. of basmati or red vinegar (or to taste)
Prep:
In a dutch oven or large skillet with lid, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and cook them, often stirring, until they're softened (about 7 or 8 minutes). Add the eggplant and stir until coated with the oil. Add the peppers. Stir well, cover and cook for another 10 minutes, checking and stirring it around so that it doesn't stick.
After the 10 minutes are up, add the tomatoes, squash(s), garlick and herbs. Mix well. Cover and cook another 15 minutes 'till the eggplant is cooked but not too squashy. You can serve over rice or pasta, or eat as is.
I like to take the leftovers, and add a bit more oil and vinegar, maybe crumble some gouda cheese into it and let it marinate. Then the next day or so, I cook salad pasta and add to it, again letting it marinade until the flavors are blended. It makes a good cold salad. For those of us who are not vegetarian, you can also add boiled eggs, or sliced olives, chunks of chicken or ham. It makes a good dinner salad, and cooled like this with other ingredients, it's not like having the same dish twice. If it works on my family, it'll work on anyone....Wren
Spider Woman's Web
Here are some links we love!!
Five Sisters Trunk Show!
You saw them at Irish Fest, now come see what the Sisters have created for Autumn and Yule!
Saturday, July 21- 10am to 5pm
302 Xavier Dr, Garland, TX 75043
469-366-1104
(I recommend Google maps for directions)
Come shop with us in the air-conditioning, have some snacks and visit with the artists!
Cash and credit cards accepted.
Creations Out of Chaos- CreationsChaos@ hotmail.com
Amazing creations in glass and more!
Potions, Lotions, and Notions- http://www.potionsl otionsandnotions .com/
Handcrafted soaps, lotions, bath items, monster books, and pirate bloomers!
Dreaming Hazel Studios- http://www.hazelhau s.com/
Beautiful artwork rich in symbolism! Includes prints, magnets, holiday cards, notecards, ornaments, books, and a new calendar!
Witch to Wear- http://www.witchtow ear.com/
Handmade hats, clothing, and accessories.
Haunted House Wares- HauntedHouseWares@ tx.rr.com
Cloaks for all seasons, sizes, and temperatures! Pouches, embroidered masks, knotwork bracelets, tails for children and adults, scarves, shawls, embroidered patches, and clothing.
A Witches Mall
For All of Your Metaphysical Needs, from herbs, to books, and altar supplies
http://a-witches-mall.vstore.ca/
A beautiful gallery:
http://www.effusion.bz/
Links to Daughters of the Greening:
Information on Courses
Tarot Readings
Prayer Requests
Email: school@daughtersofthegreening.com
Subscribe to this newsletter at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/the_sacred_glen
Home