"The seasons and all their changes are in me." -Henry David Thoreau

We hope you will join the temple, in community, to honor the seasons, the Earth, and our own personal growth for our 2007 Ritual Sabbats. This year's theme is "Reclaiming the Earth."

Our multi-cultural Earth celebrations are held at the Neighborhood Unitarian Church in Pasadena and are open to families and community. Our Sabbats are multi-media ritual theater combining mythology, music, visual art, dance, liturgy, spoken word, and participatory theater which fuses drum and dance with personal enactment to re-connect us to the seasons and the Earth.

SAVE THE DATES!!
March 24, 2007 Spring Equinox
June 23, 2007 Summer Solstice
September 15, 2007 Autumn Equinox
November 3, 2007 Hallow's Eve/Day of the Dead

Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church
301 N. Orange Grove Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91103
818-771-5778
Website: www.TempleoftheGoddess.org/Events

Artwork from Ritual Path DVD by artist John Banks and music by Fritz Heede. Soon to be released by Artek Images.

Goddess Choir Rehearsals
May 12, 10-12 am, Sutton Studio, Pasadena
June 10, 10-12 am, Sutton Studio, Pasadena
Jun 16, 10-11 am, Sutton Studio in Pasadena
Jun 23, 5-6 pm, Neighborhood Church--followed by Summer Solstice Ritual

Tentative Future Dates
Sept 8, 10-11 am, Sutton Studio in Pasadena
Sept 15, 5-6 pm, Neighborhood Church--followed by Autumn Equinox Ritual
Oct 27, 10-11 am, Sutton Studio in Pasadena
Nov 3, 5-6 pm, Neighborhood Church--followed by Hallows Ritual

1000 Symbols Living In Peace
Help establish National Spiritual Diversity Month. Go to www.1000symbols.com and sign the petition to assist in making June designated as "Celebration of Religious Diversity" month.

STANDING WOMEN
Please join the millions of women and men who are "standing for the children" for five minutes of silence at 1 p.m. your local time on Mother's Day, May 13, 2007. This beautiful movement is based on the bestselling book, The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering, Sharon Mehdi's inspirational story of two grandmothers standing silently in the local park as their way to help "save the world." For more information see article below and go to www.standingwomen.org to pledge to stand.

Pagan Pride 2007
Pagan Pride Los Angeles, Inc. announces Pagan Pride Day 2007, to be held at "The Meadows" of Whittier Narrows in El Monte on Sunday, September 9, 2007, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm. For more information go to www.paganpridela.org. Save the date!!

Work with the Energies of the Sacred Feminine

Gaia Festival is an annual event that welcomes women and men of all faiths to work with Her energy through workshops, drumming, dance, yoga, meditation and ritual.

Saturday & Sunday, May 26-27, 2007
Temescal Gateway Park
15601 W. Sunset Blvd.
Pacific Palisades, CA
More Info: 805.624.4361, www.gaiafestival.com

~~ Childhood is a journey, not a race. ~~

Fingerprint Cards for Mother's Day
by Amanda Formaro

There's nothing more unique than a fingerprint and nothing more special than preserving a child's tiny fingers and hands for posterity. Mom will love and cherish these adorable cards made by little hands. This project is rated AVERAGE to do. Ages: 3 and up. Click here for card instructions.

The Goddess Timeline
by Constance Tippett

The very first art made by humans were little statues of women. What did they represent? Early archeologists called them "Venus" figures after the Greek Goddess of love. These little figures appear at the beginning of nearly every civilization. Were they really Goddesses, how many where there, and what did they look like?

The Goddess Time Line displays many of these figures together for the first time. It enables us to see the evolution of the image of the Goddess, and may lead to a better understanding as to the meaning of these figures, and the concept of the divine feminine.

Full Color Posters 18" x 38" - Main Page
12" x 12" - Egypt
12" x 12" - Old Europe
12" x 12" - Canaan & Mesopotamia

For more information and ordering go to www.goddesstimeline.com

This interview with One of Our Own focuses on Lora Cain (aka Anonna), a recently ordained priestess with Temple of the Goddess. Lora is a multi-talented woman who graciously shares all her amazing talents with the community of Temple of the Goddess. Whether it's singing, dancing, drumming or storytelling, she brings great passion and humility to the temple's Sabbat Celebrations. Lora's recent battle to bring down billboards across Los Angeles and New York showing gratuitous violence towards women was incredibly inspiring and proved, once again, one person can make a difference. See the full L.A. Times article below of Lora's battle to remove the offensive billboards. This Temple of the Goddess priestess is a living example of walking the talk.

What type of spirituality surrounded you as a child?
By the time my parents had me, their eldest, they'd been so burned by religion that they decided their children wouldn't need it. But they didn't count on the church across the street from my Florida elementary school that had such a cool choir that kids talked about it in my 3rd grade class. Seven years old, I was supposed to walk straight home to the neighbor's, but every Wednesday I arrived later and later. Busted, I admitted to running away and was restricted for two weeks - for going to church. Mom gave in and thus began my musical career - and dance obsession. At Sunday service, I found my first life's dream - to perform interpretive dance with the other girls at the altar at church. Continued. . .

Temple of the Goddess wishes to acknowledge, honor, and welcome those who have joined, tithed, or donated to the temple this month. You keep the temple doors open for all of us.

Realm of Fire
Kamala

Realm of Earth
J. Tatum
J. Clark

Realm of Spirit
Lora Cain
Dawn Bodnar Sutton
Ana Diaz-Ruiz

Click here for information on becoming a member of TOG. Temple of the Goddess has a variety of ways that you can participate fiscally in our vision. To learn more about making a tax-deductible donation to the temple, go to Gifting Opportunities.

Artwork from Ritual Path DVD by artist John Banks and music by Fritz Heede. Soon to be released by Artek Images.

Billboard's 'Captivity' Audience Disgusted
by Steve Lopez
Los Angeles Times Metro Section, March 18, 2007

Shanise Laurent and her friends left Palms Middle School one afternoon last week and stopped for a soda at Jack in the Box.

Shanise, a seventh-grader, didn't need me to point out the billboard across the street. She said she had noticed it the day before.

"What a graphic, nasty billboard," said the 13-year- old. More . . .

Posted CNN, April 25, 2007, Courtesy Associated Press, MADISON, Wisconsin.

The Wiccan pentacle has been added to the list of emblems allowed in national cemeteries and on government-issued headstones of fallen soldiers, according to a settlement announced Monday.

A settlement between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Wiccans adds the five-pointed star to the list of "emblems of belief" allowed on VA grave markers.

Eleven families nationwide are waiting for grave markers with the pentacle, said Selena Fox, a Wiccan high priestess with Circle Sanctuary in Barneveld, Wisconsin, a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

The settlement calls for the pentacle, whose five points represent earth, air, fire, water and spirit, to be placed on grave markers within 14 days for those who have pending requests with the VA. More. . .

ABC News Online April 16, 2007

A village in south-west Ireland has won a fresh round in a battle to change its name in the Irish language back to Fort of the Harlot.

For centuries, the village known as Doon in English had been known in Irish as Dun Bleisce, or Fort of the Harlot, but the name was changed in 2003 when the Government ordered a simpler An Dun, or The Fort.

The unpopular move led to 1,000 locals signing a petition to have 'harlot' added back to the name. They were backed by local politicians and a Limerick County Council motion of support.

Under pressure, Eamon O Cuiv, the Irish Government Minister responsible for the Irish language, asked the official commission that rules on Gaelic names to give a ruling. Continued . . .

Please join the millions of women and men who are "standing for the children" for five minutes of silence at 1 p.m. your local time on Mother's Day, May 13, 2007. This beautiful movement is based on the bestselling book, The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering, Sharon Mehdi's inspirational story of two grandmothers standing silently in the local park as their way to help "save the world."

It is "a little story about peace for anyone who thinks she can't save the world," says Mehdi. Written as a gift to her newborn granddaughter, she never expected it to be embraced so warmly in her Oregon town. Sharing the story with friends, she discovered each one found it so powerful and moving that they, in turn, wanted to share it - with the world.

Standing Women Pledge
We are standing for the world's children and grandchildren and for the seven generations beyond them. We dream of a world where all our children have safe drinking water, clean air to breathe, and enough food to eat. A world where they have access to basic education to develop their minds and healthcare to nurture their growing bodies. A world where they have a warm, safe and loving place to call home. A world where they don't live in fear of violence-in their home, in their neighborhood, in their school or in their world. This is the world of which we dream. This is the cause for which we stand.

For more information go to www.standingwomen.org to pledge to stand. Click here to purchase The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering through Temple of the Goddess at Amazon.com.

Dr. Riane Eisler first captured world attention with her bestselling book, The Chalice and the Blade. With her new book, The Real Wealth of Nations: Creating a Caring Economics, she offers a new way of thinking by transforming "the dismal science of economics" into a practical plan for solving global warming, poverty, and terrorism. Hailed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu as "a template for the better world we have been so urgently seeking," by business guru Peter Senge as "desperately needed," and by Gloria Steinem as "revolutionary,' The Real Wealth of Nations proposes a "caring economics" that is more cost-effective, humane, and sustainable. Continued . . .

The Real Wealth of Nations: Creating a Caring Economics is now available at major booksellers everywhere. Click here to purchase through Temple of the Goddess at Amazon.com.

In a Sacred Circle of Sisters,
Come Home to Your Authentic Self

The Shamanic Tantric Dance is a meditation in motion, a sacred dance spontaneously sourced from body impulse.

INTRODUCTORY CLASSES in PASADENA
Saturday, May 12, 2007 from 2 to 5 pm
Monday, May 14, 2007 from 7 to 10 pm
No Dance Experience Necessary. For more info click here.
Contact Kamala: (310) 455-3876 or kamala@terrakino.net

WOW: Wiccan out Weekend
An All-Women Goddess Extravaganza & Spiritual Retreat

JULY 13-16, Jackson Flats Campground, near Wrightwood
Produced by Anne Gauldin & Ruth Ann Anderson

Please join us for a camping weekend of healing and magic, as we share joy, tears and compassion in Mother Nature. This year we will explore our themes, the Chariot and the Pig. Develop community and dance around a blazing fire to rhythmic drums as together, we create global magic.

Cost: $75 to $100. Email: raa@ruthannandersom.com or agauldin@pacbell.net

Tarot in Egypt
with Mary K. Greer, Nicki Scully and Normandi Ellis
November 2-17, 2007

Take an incredible journey to Egypt where, guided by the Tarot, you will experience mystery school initiations in the temples and tombs. There has never been a trip like this before, combining Mary Greer's wisdom of Tarot with Nicki Scully's shamanic healing rituals and Normandi Ellis' readings of the hieroglyphs in the most sacred temples on the planet.

For more information go to: http://www.shamanicjourneys.com/egypt.html or contact Mary Greer at mkgreer@pacbell.net