A PUBLICATION OF TEMPLE OF THE GODDESS

1000symbols

dess Newsletter

ISSUE 08-03 March 2008
BETWEEN THE COLUMNS WRITING AND EDITORIAL STAFF
Pythia
Karen Tate
Rosemary Clark
Marsha Lange
Morfreyja
Xia
IN THIS ISSUE
Temple Announcements
Soothsayings
Save the Date!
Halt Woman's Execution for Witchcraft
Kid's Realm ~ Childhood is a journey, not a race.
Pope Rules Out Feminist Theology
Donor Acknowledgements
First Wiccan Chaplain Meets with U.S. Commission
Ostara Meditation
Temple Moon Lodge
Notices

1000symbols Director's Message

Come join us for Spring Equinox as we remember, re-claim, and celebrate our deep connection with the cycles of life and the seasons of Mother Earth. The theme of all our 2008 Sabbat rituals is remembering the Names of the Ancient Ones and through them, our legacy, our heritage of divinity. "Forgotten, she does not die, but sleeps, whispering in her dreams (Dreams that are the lives of men) until these words, remembered, wake her."* As children of the divine, we begin the year with Spring and the growing light, we remember Her, we whisper Her many names, we awaken Her, and we call Her, once again, into the world.
 
* Names by Clay Gilbert

breath of gaia Spring Equinox Ritual & Celebration

Saturday March 22, 2008, 7:30 PM
Doors Open 6:45

The evening of myth and ritual theater begins with a reprise of 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 found while on her underground winter sojourn.

new growth As our spring story and enactment unfolds, Sophia, daughter of wisdom loses herself, her consciousness of home and her own divinity. She wanders in the cold, the last snow of winter, crying out for help. She meets several animals who share their wisdom of home and their connection to the divine. Until at last she finds an injured and dying blue jay. Heartbroken, she calls upon the Nameless Ones to help save the bird. We then meet Ostara, the Goddess of Spring, who hears Sophia's cries and comes to her.

Journey with us to meet Ostara, the ancient Teutonic fertility Goddess and witness her magical gift of Easter.

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 the Priestesses of TOG 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, download flyer at www.templeofthegoddess.org/events

Image: Breath of GAIA by Josephine Wall

  Temple of the Goddess Announcements

Goddess Choir Rehearsals
Choir Rehearsals have resumed and will be held on the first and third Sundays at 4-6.
March 16th, 4-6:30
April 6th, 4-6
April 20th, 4-6
 
Automatic Donations Really Big Deal!
Auto Donations from eScrip, Amazon, Zazzle for February was $68.76. Thank you to those few dedicated Temple members who have been shopping using their eScrip membership and others who have been buying through Temple of the Goddess store.
 

Essays, articles, interviews, and poetry for temple newsletter can be submitted to newletter@TempleoftheGoddess.org.

 

Click here to find out about Community Events . If you would like to post an event with Temple of the Goddess, please let us know by submitting the date and pertinent information to: Events@TempleoftheGoddess.org.
 
Temple Calendar  is now up for public viewing. Temple Discussion Board is available for your thoughts and ideas.

Soothsayings: March-April 2008 1000symbols
The Vernal (vernalis, "spring") Equinox has been honored since ancient times as a transition from the hibernation of one season to the awakening of another. In the northern hemisphere, this event heralds the planting season; for skywatchers it is the astronomical beginning of a new year. Visually, the Spring Equinox (equi, "equal" and nox, "night") marks the time when the Sun crosses the celestial equator and moves north; it will visually appear high on the horizons until its southerly descent begins in the Fall.

This year's Spring Equinox (March 19 at 10:49 pm PDT) is followed by a Full Moon (March 21 at 11:40 am PDT). Solar and Lunar phenomena that take place together presage unique events, and the period (March 18 - 30) should be considered advantageous for taking unorthodox action, even veering off into new directions rather than following the same pattern or habits. This becomes possible through the vitality offered by the Equinox and the revelations certain to be disclosed at the Full Moon. 

More . . .

(*) All phenomena are cited for the Tropical (Western) Zodiac
© Copyright 2008 by Rosemary Clark

Rosemary Clark is author of The Sacred Tradition in Ancient Egypt: The Esoteric Wisdom Revealed and The Sacred Magic of Ancient Egypt: The Spiritual Practice Restored. She has also written The Everything Meditation Book and her work is included in Menopause: A One-Stop Resource for Feeling Good and The Complete Dream Dictionary. When not writing and organizing spiritual expeditions to Egypt, she is saying sooth to an international cadre of students and associates.
 SAVE THE DATE  

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

 
wheat We hope you will join the temple, in community, to honor the seasons, the Earth, and our own personal growth for our 2008 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 DATE!!

  • March 22, 2008 Spring Equinox
  • June 28, 2008 Summer Solstice
  • September 20, 2008 Autumn Equinox
  • November 1, 2008 All Hallow's Eve

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 of Artek Images  and music by Fritz Heede .  Available from Temple of the Goddess Music & Media Store .

Saudi Arabia: Halt Woman's Execution for 'Witchcraft'

Fawza Falih's Case Reveals Deep Flaws in Saudi Justice System

(New York, February 14, 2008) - King Abdullah should halt the execution of Fawza Falih and void her conviction for "witchcraft," Human Rights Watch said in a letter to the Saudi king.

The religious police who arrested and interrogated Fawza Falih and the judges who tried her in the northern town of Quraiyat never gave her the opportunity to prove her innocence against absurd charges that have no basis in law.

"The fact that Saudi judges still conduct trials for unprovable crimes like 'witchcraft' underscores their inability to carry out objective criminal investigations," said Joe Stork, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "Fawza Falih's case is an example of how the authorities failed to comply even with existing safeguards in the Saudi justice system." Continued . . .

Human Rights Watch www.hrw.org

Kid's Realm                          ~~Childhood is a journey, not a race.~~bunny craft

Sleepy Bunny
by: Amanda Formaro
Difficulty:  Easy

This cute little bunny fell asleep inside of one of your Easter eggs! Shhh, don't wake him--he needs his strength to deliver those goodies.

Click for more . . .

breath of gaia

The Pope Rules Out Feminist Theology

By Malcolm Moore in Rome

The Vatican has cracked down on feminist interpretations of the liturgy, ruling that God must always be recognised as Our Father.

In a move designed to counter the spread of gender-neutral phrases, the Holy See said that anyone baptised using alternative terms, such as "Creator", "Redeemer" and "Sanctifier" would have to be re-baptised using the traditional ceremony.

The Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith said yesterday: "These variations arise from so-called feminist theology and are an attempt to avoid using the words Father and Son, which are held to be chauvinistic." More.

unity
DONOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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 Air
Kamala

Realm of Water
Anonymous
 
Realm of Earth
J. Clark

Realm of Spirit
Dawn Bodnar Sutton
J.Tatum
Ruth Ann Anderson
 
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 of Artek Images  and music by Fritz Heede .  Available from Temple of the Goddess Music & Media Store .
Patrick McCollum First Wiccan Chaplain in History To Meet with
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
 
Update on Patrick McCollum at US Commission on Civil Rights - February 8, 2008
Remarks Delivered Before Commission

Statewide Wiccan Chaplain, California Department of Corrections, Patrick McCollum will speak at a briefing on prisoners' religious rights at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in Washington, DC on Friday, February 8, 2007. This marks the first time that a Wiccan expert has spoken on religious freedom issues at a Commission briefing. Continued . . .

Ostara Meditation - The Potential Within by Karen Tate

new growth Find a comfortable position. Close your eyes and breathe. Breathe in - and out. Breathe in - and out. Allow your mind to release any thoughts as you make ready for our inner journey. Let the suggestions of the journey unfold on the movie screen of your third eye. Breathe in - and out. Drop into that special space you go to to receive suggestions from the Divine. Allow. Allow. Allow. Be ready to open yourself to ideas and guidance important for you to grasp. Breathe. Allow. Allow yourself to be a container - filling up with inspiration and wisdom you might glean from this journey. Let your consciousness go deeper, moving away from this place. It is as if you are sinking into luxurious pillows, or walking down a flight of stairs. One step at a time. You go deeper and deeper with each step. Breathe and relax. Keep moving down that staircase to the potent darkness of your being. Continued. . .

Moon Lodge Temple of the Goddess Moon Lodge

Wednesdays 7 PM to 10 PM, April 9, May 7, & June 4

In the dark of winter I was given this "Call to Power" by a sister priestess, she had been deeply moved by it and was ready to answer Brooke Medicine Eagle's Call. As she read it to the women gathered with her, we were all moved by the deep emotion and truth it brought up for us. Here is a brief excerpt from Brooke Medicine Eagle's Call:

"This call is for honoring the deep function of Mother's gift of life blood within us-to bring forth vision and make it real for our families at a time when vision is so important for us and for the healing of Mother. Honoring this cycle within you will be more than empty form and words; it will be given new life by men and women alike. And wonderfully, we will notice healthier, more comfortable menstrual cycles and birthing.

These are simple, ancient ideas, powerfully useful when put into practice. Your feeling may be one of not knowing what to do; the line of feminine teachings may have been lost to you. And I say, Mother's truth is always within us; be willing to discover it within yourself. Reach back across the gap. Be willing to now know, to reach into the unknown, the Great Mystery. Then you and we are following the model Buffalo Woman gifted to us; we are carrying the water of Spirit to the people. We are nurturing and renewing at the most profound level."

Women, now it is your turn to answer this call. Join me as we gather in the Temple of the Goddess Moon Lodge to answer Brooke Medicine Eagle's "Call to Power."

For more info and/or to participate, contact Kamala, Priestess of Life Cycle Empowerment,  Kamala@TempleoftheGoddess.org

Illustration by Linda Childers, The Sacred Path Cards

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 Class
Saturday April 14, 2008 from 1 to 4 pm
 
SERIES OF FIVE CLASSES
Monday, March 21st thru May 19th, 2008 from 7 to 10 pm $150

No Dance Experience Necessary. For more info click here .

Contact Kamala: (310) 455-3876 or kamala@terrakino.net .

Travel to Sacred Places of the Divine Feminine begins again . . . Guided by Karen Tate.
 
On your sacred tour, history, spirituality and culture come alive, creating a continuum between past and present. Time and distance dims. The line between traditional and non-traditional faith fades. You become one with the Mother.
 
Paris and Chartres - May 2008, Turkey - October 2008
 
SACRED SUNDAYS Sunday, April 13th, 11AM - 1PM
MARCH'S THEME: The Greening of Earth.  Interfaith services based on the Sacred Feminine, complemented by the Divine Masculine, open to women, men and well-behaved children of all traditions and faiths.  http://www.karentate.com/Tate/sacred_sundays.html
 
Voices of the Sacred Feminine Internet Radio program every Wednesday night provides a platform for Goddess Advocates to share ideas about Goddess with the world.
http://www.karentate.com/Tate/radio_show.html
 
For more information go to KarenTate.com or contact the author at karentate108@ca.rr.com or 310/450-6661

Susan Grey masthead

Come join us in 2008! Conversation and sacred travel allow us to open our minds, hearts and spirits to new learning...a chance to exchange ideas and expand our world.

Goddess Conversations invites you to engage and converse in the study of the Divine Feminine through spiritual journey and pilgrimage to some of the most spectacular art, architecture and sacred lands on Mother Earth.

Palm Springs, California: Mar 20th-23rd
Amazons in Turkey:  July 1st - July 10th
Florence, Italy: Sept 27th - Oct 4th  
 
www.GoddessConversations.com or call Katie at 970-227-7513.
gaia festival 08 Gaia Festival & Retreat
 
October 11-12, 2008
 
Featured Presenter for 2008: Margaret Starbird
 
This year's theme for Gaia Fest is Mother Mysteries and will focus on connecting with our inner mother through meditation, journaling, drumming and ritual. What mysteries does She have to share with you?
 
 
Temescal Gateway Park, Pacific Palisades, CA
Pre-Registration Now Open - Register online
 
 
 
The Great Mother and the Dragon by: Jessie Oster
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