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Director's Message
Thank you to everyone who shared our ritual Sabbats in 2008. We will resume Sabbat celebrations in Spring of 2009. Please check future newsletters for 2009 ritual dates. In the meantime, if you are looking for community connection and spiritual nourishment, please join us for our monthly Full Moon Celebrations led by Priestess Morfreyja and/or the Women's Moon Lodge led by Priestess Kamala.
Thank you to Rosemary Clark for her wonderful astrological guidance, to Fee for sharing her herbal lore, and to Pythia and Mori without whom this monthly newsletter would not be possible. You are the columns. My loving gratitude to RA and Ananda for things too numerous to mention.
A special thank-you to all the temple spiritual artists who give so much time and energy to create our rituals. The experience of ritual theatre that you create is beyond awesome. So to all of you-musicians, choir members, artists, Mythic Players, lighting designers, sound technicians, media artists, printers, carpenters, costumers, mask and puppet makers-all that you offer so graciously in service to the Earth and the community, thank you from the bottom of my heart. A huge, loving thanks to our unsung heroines, Dawn and Ana for keeping the doors open. The rituals wouldn't happen without you. You have my love, respect, and gratitude. The world is a better place because you are here.
Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving and a cornucopia of blessings. Xia
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Hallows Eve Highlights
We'd like to share some images taken during the rehearsal and performance of this year's Hallows Eve celebration and Revelations of Kali myth. Photos courtesy of RA and Jill D'Agnenica.
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Would you like to change the world? You can be a Force for good in this world by helping your community with charitable shopping. There are many reasons to Gift or donate to a nonprofit, none more important than an affinity with its vision and mission. As a non-profit church we must rely on generous people like you who donate and support worthy causes.
The seasons turn and the holiday season is upon us again. This season we hope you find ways of showing your love for family and friends that also aids your temple home. Consider us when you shop for loved ones by going to the Temple Store. Everything you buy through the store helps to keep the temple doors open. So whatever, you're looking for, please try us first. Our arrangements with both Amazon and Zazzle gives a percentage of your shopping dollars to Temple of the Goddess. When you think about gifts for loved ones, think about Temple of the Goddess. It won't cost you a penny. Simply go to the Temple Store. There you will find:
Books
Cards, Hats, T-Shirts, Mugs & More
Gifts
Music & Media
Herbal Store
Department Store
The Books, Gift, Music & Media, and Department Storeare all directly linked to Amazon.com and you can fill your shopping cart with books, music, and media. Under Gifts, you can find many goddess related gift items and Department Store literally offers all things Amazon: Apparel, Accessories, Computers, Jewelry, Kitchenware, Electronics, Sports, Toys, Games, Tools. As long as you enter through the temple store before shopping, a percentage of your Amazon holiday purchases will help the temple.
 Cards, Hats, T-Shirts, Mugs & More will take you to our temple store at Zazzle.com which is set up to offer you great items branded with the Temple of the Goddess logo such as t-shirts, mouse pads, hats, mugs, canvas bags, and more. You can even get postage stamps for your holiday cards with the TOG logo on them. And the temple gets a donation from all Zazzle purchases too.
The Herbal Store, while in progress, allows you to shop for the wonderful all-natural beauty products offered by Faerie Dream Products such as body scrubs, moisturizers, hair care, facial products. And all-natural, too. Morifreyja, TOG priestess, is the owner and creator of Faerie Dream Products and is currently working on a new Temple of the Goddess line of herbal and beauty products.
So please, when thinking of your loved ones this holiday season, remember Temple of the Goddess and click here to shop and support the work and vision of the temple. |
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Temple of the Goddess Announcements
Choir Rehearsals will resume after the New Year.
Goddess Choir: If you'd like to be a part of the ever-growing Temple of the Goddess choir, email choir@TempleoftheGoddess.org. MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
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. |
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Soothsayings: November - December 2008
Of Change and Disruption
How does one predict in unpredictable times? Current events underscore such a question, though sacred tradition points to some answers. Ancient Hellenic legends relate that Ouranos, primeval god of the sky and husband of the Earth goddess Gaia, exists in timeless time, a being independent of the elements and the constraints of natural law. But in seeking domination of the physical world, his son Kronos, primeval god of time, castrated Ouranos, rendering him powerless in the material realm. Though eventually attaining to master of human fate, Kronos was destined to be neutered by his own son Zeus, lord of limitless horizons. In this mythos, measured time overcomes timeless time, but is also subjected to the boundaries of time itself - birth, senescence, death. Thus, the unlimited power of the future (Ouranos) eventually imposes on the complacency of the past (Kronos), spontaneously and extraordinarily, particularly when the aggregate of power denies change.  In the cosmic realm, such a confrontation now takes place. The two planets Saturn and Uranus have been transiting together in an opposition (180º distance from each other), bringing the influences of both change and resistance to the fore, in constructive and disruptive episodes. A forty-year occurrence, the first of five such events began this time around on November 4th, and will be repeated in 2009 on February 5th and September 15th, to take place again in 2010 on April 26th and concluding on July 26, 2010. The last episode occurs at the zero-point Aries-Libra, viewed by some as the world axis. Seen altogether, we realize a process of metamorphosis rather than an episode of change, a period of revision and mutation. It is a marvelous opportunity for each person to alter their view of both past and future, to expand those visions and employ the powers of change, now in ascendancy. Saturn, the past, calls for fear and retreat while Uranus, the future, calls for risk and forward motion. To encourage that prescription, Uranus turns to direct motion on November 27 (18 Pisces 44') and Saturn turns to retrograde motion on December 18 (21 Virgo 36'). Here, the power of change moves ahead, while the effects of the past descend into darkness. This period (Nov. 27 - Dec. 18) may be a respite from worry and depression, but we should move methodically, as the exhilaration of breaking free from fear should not invite nonchalance. Start visioning now! More Illustration 1. Mutilation of Ouranos by Kronos by Giorgio Vasari (Palazzo Vecchio, Florence)
(*) 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. |
| WINTER IS FALLOW TIME
by Pythia & Xia
"The seasons and all its changes are within me." -Henry David Thoreau
 Winter is different in Southern California. In other parts of the country, the world, Winter is ushered in with colorful, swirling leaves of red, brown, and gold. It's announced with cold Northern winds which ultimately bring sleet and snow. Southern California is very different. We don't have a Fall Fellow, clothed in shades of brown leaves, blowing a cooling horn. So how do we tune into the seasons?
This year at Fall Equinox we offered thanks for the harvest of our spring's planting and acknowledged that it was time for the Earth to rest, to lie fallow. The Temple concentrated on seeds (ideas, plans) that should be kept for 2009 spring's planting. But what does it mean to lie fallow? Encarta World English Dictionary states: "1. left unseeded after plowing for a period of time in order to recover natural fertility 2. currently inactive but with the possibility of activity or use in the future."
Left unseeded after plowing-no more activities or ideas added to the field, but the dirt has been plowed, ready for the proper time to plant the fresh new seeds. To recover natural fertility-all of life's endeavors need a refresh time. Writers call it 'going to the well'. Whatever it's called, it is a needed, integral part of every section and parcel of life. Every day our brains shift gears and, during sleep, go into REM sleep where everything from fantasies to extremely important decisions are scanned, reviewed, analyzed, and sometimes decided. The second definition is very interesting: currently inactive, BUT with the possibility of activity or use in the future. Inactive doesn't necessarily mean doing nothing, it also means, in idle gear, not working to full capacity. It means, Slow Down. Continued . . . |
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
Ariel Penn
Gloria Avrech
Milena Albert
Realm of Earth
Anne Gauldin
Realm of Spirit
Dawn Bodnar Sutton
Ana Diaz-Ruiz
Ruth Ann Anderson
J. Clark
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.
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Kid's Realm ~~Childhood is a journey, not a race.~~
 Turkey Note Holder By: Amanda Formaro Difficulty: Easy Age: 7 and up
This cute little turkey can hang from your refrigerator or your front door. Whether his note says "Welcome", "Where's the Beef?" or "What's for Dinner?," everyone will think he's adorable! More |
Herb of the Month
by: Fee, Certified Master Herbalist from the Global College of Natural Medicine, Keeper of the Gardens
"Sweet is the lore which Nature brings." -John Muir
 With Samhain now behind us, comes the Mourning Moon. To the month of November, goes the lovely chrysanthemum. This lovely bloom offers sweet protection and has an elemental correspondence with fire. When grown in your yard, it offers protection from ghosts. When you consider that the year has just passed with Samhain, it's a very appropriate flower.
 With the end of the calendar year closing fast and the holidays that are just around the corner, I offer you cinnamon (Cinnamonum zeylanicum or C. lauraceae). Specific uses: Burn to raise very high spiritual vibrations. Use in healing incense and burn to stimulate clairvoyance. One of the herbs used to stimulate and excite passions of the male. Add to prosperity mixtures. Mix with myrrh for a good incense for general working.
Folk names: Sweet wood, cassia Gender: Hot Planet: Sun Element: Fire Part used: Bark Basic Powers: Protection, Healing, Passion Garden Witchery - Magick From The Ground Up, Ellen Dugan, Llewellyn Worldwide 2003 The Secret Craft of the Wise: Magical Herbalism, Scott Cunningham, Llewellyn Worldwide 2002 Images: Mums courtesy of www.bayimages.net, Cinnamon courtesy of www.Photobucket.com
For gardening or herbal questions, contact Fee at khotbc@yahoo.com |
 Temple of the Goddess ~ Full Moon Celebrations
Monthly Celebrations on the night of the Full Moon.
2008 Dates: December 12th
Strong lunar energy pulls everything out of hiding and reflects it back at us. Emotions seem closer to the surface and social inhibitions melt away. While neither Waxing nor Waning, the Full Moon is a highly charged time for release and gain.
During the Full Moon Celebrations you will learn the energy flow of each monthly Full Moon, meditate to draw down the Lunar power, create magic within sacred circle and use divination tools to release the unwanted as well as bring in the desired.
Click here for more information about Temple of the Goddess Full Moon Celebration, and a pdf flyer or email FullMoonCelebration@TempleoftheGoddess.org or phone: 818-771-5778
Picture Courtesy of Isquiesque |
Temple of the Goddess PAGAN BOOK CLUB
First Meeting ~ January 12, 2009
 Do you enjoy reading and discussing books? Then please join us for the temple's new Pagan Book Club. Some of our young people are hungry to read what many of us older Pagans have long ago read so this is our chance to re-read, share our wisdom, and get some fresh new perspectives from the next generation (or two). We will be reading both fiction and nonfiction. If you're interested in joining us, our first book will be:
When God Was a Woman by Merlin Stone
Description: Here, archaeologically documented,is the story of the religion of the Goddess. Under her, women's roles were far more prominent than in patriarchal Judeo-Christian cultures. Stone describes this ancient system and, with its disintegration, the decline in women's status. Index; maps and illustrations.
Click here to buy this book from Amazon and help support the temple. For more info, date, location, email: PaganBookClub@templeofthegoddess.org |
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Temple of the Goddess
Moon Lodge
We gather to honor and celebrate the Moon Mother and her cycles which we embody with her sacred gift of rhythm and blood. Together we will celebrate stories of our own moon-time, from our experiences of menarche to menopause. We will share stories of Her ebb and flow, reconnecting ourselves with these divine and timeless cycles. Our repose in this dreamtime within the safety of a circle of sisters has the power to heal and reunite our deeper selves with the natural world.
The Moon Lodge is held on Wednesdays between 7pm and 10pm.
Moon Lodge Schedule: November 26th, and Monday December 29th
Dress comfortable and bring comfy pillow and blanket to snuggle in. Bring any sacred offerings you may wish to share with the Goddess on Her Altar. And a decadent snack to share with your sisters.
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 Trance Journey Through Drumming
New class offered by Temple of the Goddess
This is not a "learn how to drum" class, but deep meditation instruction. In this class you will learn about Shamanism and what a Shaman does when she or he moves into a trance and enters another reality. If you've wanted a different way of meditating to "sort things out" then this might work for you. In addition to the trance work, the class will study various topics including:
- Shamanic Trance Drumming-what it is and where it has been in practice.
- Spirit Guides-how to obtain one and what a Guide does for you.
- Relevancy of Shamanic Trance Drumming in today's world.
Classes led by Pythia, Temple of the Goddess priestess and a practioner of Shamanic Trance Drumming for 18 years. Classes ongoing. For dates and times, contact Pythia@templeofthegoddess.org and put Trance Journey in the subject. Click here for more info and a downloadable pdf flyer. |
 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.
SERIES OF FIVE CLASSES
Classes resuming in January
No Dance Experience Necessary. For more info click here. | |
