Celebrating the Seasons: Spring Equinox
Saturday March 24, 2007, 7:30 PM, Doors Open 6:45

The evening of myth and ritual theatre begins with Inanna who like many of the divine goddesses, teaches us that just as the seeds we plant each year "die, be reborn and rise again," we too are part of the ever continuing cycle of life. Through dance and song, Inanna graces us with the wisdom she has found while on her underground winter sojourn.

As our spring story and enactment unfolds, the dark crone of winter accedes to the Spring Maiden as she begins another year’s journey around the Seasons of the Wheel. The Maiden has left the Crone’s cave where she found wisdom and guidance in the nurturing dark of winter. Now she ventures forth to find courage, plant her dream seeds, and grow her personal garden while reclaiming the Garden of the Earth. She faces East, a rising sun promising a fulfilled life, and finds a large nest where she is offered an egg to carry her precious seeds and other tokens of guidance she finds along the way. Cheered on by the archetypal fool who dares to believe all things are possible, the Maiden visits Lilith in the south, the first woman in the Garden of Eden, who offers her the fruit of self-knowledge and bids her reclaim the regenerative powers of the Serpent. She then travels west and lights a candle in the reflective pond of future possibilities before greeting the Greenman and planting her symbolic dream seeds in the Garden of Community.

Journey with the Spring Maiden as she, and we, seek courage while traveling through the Seasons, re-claiming the Earth and the power to grow the Gardens we desire in our lives.

Newcomer’s Meeting in Lobby at 6:45pm, before the ritual. If this is your first Temple of the Goddess Ritual or you just have questions, meet with Kamala in the lobby before the ritual. Bring your questions, fears, hopes, and desires.

Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church
301 N. Orange Grove Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91103
818-771-5778
For more information, click here .

Goddess Choir Rehearsals
Mar 24 5-6 pm, Neighborhood Church--followed by Spring Equinox Ritual

Tentative Future Dates
Jun 16, 10-11 am, Sutton Studio in Pasadena
Jun 23, 5-6 pm, Neighborhood Church--followed by Summer Solstice Ritual
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

*** CO-LIGHTING DIRECTOR needed, no experience necessary. To work and learn with Roy Tate, our temple lighting director. Contact temple director at Xia@TempleoftheGoddess.org.

Still An Urban Miracle
Last month we reported on Isis and Serapis, the Temple serpents. Exactly seven days after the Temple ordained its first seven priestesses, Isis laid seven eggs. It turns out that these eggs were infertile. Yet, we cannot help but recognize, and mark, this amazing occurrence. Eggs, always a symbol of infinite possibilities, are used in countless spring celebrations. We celebrate the continued evolution of Temple of the Goddess and the possibilities for new growth that these seven new priestesses will undoubtedly bring for many years to come. (See Urban Ordination article below.)

by Lora Cain

We have lived in darkness
content in this half life with the
other members of our tribe
we lie here dormant
comforted by the all encompassing
embrace of this rich black earth
and trapped by its overwhelming weight
We are blind ...and safe
from all the possibilities and the pain
for we know that is what comes of a
life fully lived and
so many of us have chosen to stay asleep
protected in this limbo
numb to our own promise - and pleasure
Yet there is a stirring among us
Awake (More)

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

Chenille Stem Butterflies

Hang these butterflies by the antenna with fishing line from a paper plate punched with holes. Paint a sky with clouds on the plate to make your butterflies look like they are flying. Parental supervision is recommended with the use of wire cutters. This project is rated EASY to do. Cont . . .

As the Wheel of Life spins, the seasons bear witness to the covenant of the Goddess, Her promise of life and the never-ending cycle of birth, death, and renewal. To each of us in times of both joy and sorrow She sweetly whispers, "Be not afraid of my cycles and embrace the changing nature of all things, the permanence within the impermanence. The seasons bear witness to this promise I manifested for you. For surely, the darkness and death of winter is followed by the light and renewal of spring."

We Remember:
The mother of Temple of the Goddess’ board member and facilitator Ana Diaz-Ruiz, Zoila Diaz. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Diaz family.

We Honor and Celebrate:
Baby girl, Sylvie Margot Delsol, daughter of Temple of the Goddess’ web designer, Shannon Adamson and Christophe Delsol. Sylvie was born on February 18, 2007 at 4:29 P.M. and weighed in at 7lbs and was 18". In addition to web design, Shannon is an artist and poet and says of Sylvie, “She is an observant little baby, full of energy and is so smart - gazing into her eyes, I just know she knows everything. (smile) We have endless, wordless conversations - especially in the middle of the night.” We send temple blessings to the family and a well come to Sylvie.

Goddess is The Secret!
by Rev. Karen Tate

With Spring upon us, the mind turns to the promise of the season offering the potential for our blossoming and growth in the coming year. But how can we move from metaphor into manifestation and ride that potent wave to improve our chances for abundance in all phases of our lives?

Much has been made recently of the new book and dvd, The Secret , introducing the less-magically inclined among us to a New Age, touchy-feely explanation for the old knowledge sometimes called the cosmic law of attraction. Like the slightly older and more science-driven film, What the Bleep Do We Know? , both inform the masses how our thoughts are things that literally alter not just our perception of the world around us, but our life and reality. Like a domino affect, this understanding then forms the foundation for belief that our actions, inspired by our conscious and unconscious thoughts, of course, then affect how our future unfolds. In other words, we get what we expect. We get back what we give. The attitudes we put into the world, the intention and attention we put toward a goal or an idea, whether negative and positive, will be reflected back at us in kind. The laws of attraction and reciprocity dictate that goodness put into action will net goodness returned and vice versa. More . . .

Author, Sacred Places of Goddess: 108 Destinations
www.karentate.com

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
Ruth Ann Anderson

Realm of Water
Howard Hansen

Realm of Earth
J. Tatum
J. Clark
Kathleen Forrest

Realm of Spirit
Dawn Bodnar Sutton
Ana Diaz-Ruiz
Anne Gauldin

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 .

SUPER SUNDAY by Pythia

Millions around the world sat in front of televisions, in their houses, at friends, in bars – watching the outcome of the XLIst Super Bowl. Los Angeles had its share of afficionados, too.

But, at a modest house in the northeastern area of Los Angeles county, a different sort of fan base assembled. It was dusk in Eagle Rock, California on the 4th of February, 2007. Super Bowl XLI was in full swing. But the Super Bowl was the farthest thing from seven women’s minds that evening.

After arriving in the early evening at the chosen house for this event, seven women purified themselves by having the smoke of burning sage wafted over their entire bodies. Dressed in ceremonial garb–each woman different, they remained in silence. Some stayed outside surrounded by green plants and the sound of bubbling water in the nearby pond, Aphrodite rising from the foam. Some went into the front room, laid down, going deep within themselves.

This was the time of preparation. They had already searched their minds for the reason they were here, tonight. Now, they readied their souls. Temple of the Goddess would ordain them as priestesses. Such a role is not to be taken lightly. The path is not always straight or smooth, and at times might be lined with those who view the Goddess Path as an offensive thing, not to be tolerated. These seven women knew the seriousness of their choice. Con't. . .

To find out more about TOG's priestesses take a look at our new Temple Clergy page.

“ 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 .

Book Review by Tiffani Ayres

Book: The Pagan Christ: Recovering the Lost Light
Author: Tom Harpur www.tomharpur.com

Excerpt: “Not only did the early Christians take over almost completely the myths and teachings of their Egyptian masters, mediated in many cases by the Mystery Religions and by Judaism in its many forms, but they did everything in their power, through forgery and other fraud, book burning, character assassination and murder itself, to destroy the crucial evidence of what had happened.”

The Pagan Christ filled me with hope for greater understanding between people of all faiths. As a Pagan, I am always encouraged when I encounter a bridge to a future where modern day neo-pagan practices are more accepted and understood. My copy of the book is full of highlighted passages and personal notes written in the margins! The book is extremely well written and includes an extensive bibliography, appendix, glossary and notes. More . . .

NOTE: Books, films, media that are “mystical, magical, spiritual or simply divine” . . . that’s what I’m talking about! Media that touches our hearts or inspires or challenges us to see the world in a different light. When I read something wonderful I cannot wait to tell my friends about it. I hope to share my enthusiasm for divine books and other media with Temple of the Goddess readers. If you have read something divine lately, please share it with me at tiffaniayres@yahoo.com.

Image: Horus--the Sun God by Lisa Hunt

Many thanks to those people who bought solstice or birthday presents from Amazon.com through the Temple website. Over the past holiday purchasing period, over $200 was awarded to the Temple! All it takes is a conscious thought to first enter the Temple website, go to the store page, then enter Amazon by clicking on the icon. It’s so easy to give money! And it’s not out of your pocket. Let someone else give money in your name.
That’s what happens when you buy something from Amazon through the Temple Bookstore page. Every purchase earns cash which is electronically deposited in the Temple’s checking account. You get to feel great because of your charity and someone else picks up the tab. How easy is that?

And speaking of feeling good by giving someone else’s money to a worthy cause–eScrip works the same way. Well almost. You allow a retailer to give the Temple money by first, signing up on their website, www.escrip.com . Macy’s and Von’s are in partnership with eScrip. At these stores you must use their card when purchasing. Then, every time you shop at Von’s and scan your card, or use Macy’s charge card, a percentage of your purchase is credited to the Temple. Everyone has to eat, right? A lot of us shop at Von’s, right? We all wear clothes, right? Why not allow them to allow you to get that rosy glow of donation with absolutely no cost to you?

When you sign up at eScrip just tell them that you want 100% of your donations to go to Temple of the Goddess, then frequent the long list of restaurants and retail stores participating in the program. By the way, there are many stores on-line that are associated with escrip, so you don’t even have to leave your house in order to donate to the Temple!

One other way to have others donate money for your ‘feel good feeling’ is to obtain an eScrip visa credit card. This is a terrific way to contribute in a large way to the Temple. Every purchase made with the eScrip visa card credits the Temple with a percentage (depending on the store, anywhere from 8 - 10%). So, please, allow others to donate to your favorite nonprofit, Temple of the Goddess, and enjoy the glow. Please take a moment, go to eSrip and sign up now . Click here .

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, April 14, 2007 from 2 to 5 pm
Monday, April 16, 2007 from 7 to 10 pm
No Dance Experience Necessary. For more info click here .
Contact Kamala: (310) 455-3876 or kamala@terrakino.net

Goddess Conversations 2007. www.goddessconversations.com

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

The Magdalene Center Monthly Community Events:

Mar 22. 7:30 PM Open Mic, Music and Spoken Word, Hosted by Miri Hunter
Mar 23. 7 PM Life Drawing Class, Hosted by Jayne DeMente
Mar 24 9 AM -1 PM End of Month Parking Lot Sale
Mar 24 8 PM “Females On Fire” Musical Celebrations, co-hosted by SONGS ALIVE
Mar 25. 11-1PM Mary Magdalene Tradtional Service with Catherine Wright
April 13 7:00 PM Book Signing with Tim Ward
April 14-15 2:00 PM Workshop with Tim Ward “Men and Spirituality
April 21 1:00 PM WHP Thealogy Series
April 26 7:30 PM Open Mic, Music and Spoken Word, Hosted by Miri Hunter
April 27 7 PM Life Drawing Class, Hosted by Jayne DeMente
April 28 9 AM -1 PM End of Month Parking Lot Sale

Location: 4822 Vineland Ave @ Lankershim, North Hollywood, CA 91601
Phone: 818.760.0531
www.themagdalenecenter.com