In Love With the Goddess's topics - tribe.net

Can you hear the crickets??

tattooshaman — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 09:04:26 GMT

chirp......... chirrrrp..... chirrrp chirrrp.............

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 3 replies

Happy Solstice

ravendragonsbard — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 10:52:58 GMT

While the winds blow and the snow falls and my family is out doing guy things to keep awake for our vigil tonight I wanted to drop by here and wish everyone a Happy Solstice.

Now, who wants eggnog?

Peace,
Raven

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 1 reply

Winter Solstice is just around the corner.

tattooshaman — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 14:34:43 GMT

So, does anyone else share with me the feeling that "winter time is magic time"? I suspect it has more to do with the fact that here in the northern hemisphere, the energies that are usually focused on keeping things green and growing, are less active, and have retreated into the Earth around us. During the warmer months, these energies both complement and outshine the energies that the people around us manifest, and what with summer months being spent out doors, we are rarely concentrated indoors with magical intent, instead seeking the warmer environs of the world around us. As we move into our winter "caves", hour homes become a focal point for what energies are present in the people in our lives, and the "holiday" gatherings and festivities bring us physically closer (in a broad, general sense) than we are in the summer. Add to this the fact that energy work in these months draws on what I see as a greater "reserve" of the planet's energies, due to their disuse in the greater plant kingdom, and I end up experiencing some of the most wonderful, magical evenings with the people with whom I choose to share my life.

Here on the north coast of California (Humboldt County), it's dark by 5PM, and the rains have begun in earnest. I find myself spending more time indoors with my magical friends, and those moments seem to be more charged and filled with spiritual joy than any other time of year. Specific spiritual/religious activities do not seem, to me anyway, to be as necessary- for gathering and experiencing the magic around us- as they do the rest of the year, but when they do occur, the hold a much more intimate, powerful feel for me.

Or maybe I'm just more connected to my northern European roots in the colder times, since my ancestors spent most of the dark winter months in long-houses, wrapped in furs around the central fire pit, drinking mead and entreating the gods to keep the Frost Giants at bay.

Your thoughts?

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 0 replies

Happy New Year!

tattooshaman — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:08:16 GMT

I wish you all a wonderful new year. Please take care this evening, as the veil between the worlds lowers.

Love and respect,

T

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 2 replies

Unconditional Love?

Fri, 10 Jun 2005 20:24:38 GMT

A recurring theme, here. *g*
Here's the question: Is it possible for a man and woman to love each other UNCONDITIONALLY? I'm not speaking of family relationships here. I'm talking about true and total acceptance by a member of the opposite sex/world/species. What I'm wondering is if the "When Harry Met Sally" sexual tension/expectation/whatever makes it impossible for two members of the opposite sex to truly achive the Platonic ideal.
Let's face it: the sexual possiblity is *always* there, even when both parties agree to ignore it, and that tension makes expressing such a love.....difficult, especially through the clumsy blocks of language.

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 40 replies

Samhain, Halloween, Day of the Dead, and other, wonderful exercises in marketing......

tattooshaman — Sun, 16 Oct 2005 16:20:40 GMT

Is anyone ELSE having trouble actually finding 'real', open to the public, advertized celebrations this month that aren't the packaged fluff-product of Jose Cuervo, WalMart, or Llewellyn Publishing?

It occurs to me that the 'real thing' CAN'T possibly be done publically, and that ANY meaningful celebration must originate and grow from private 'underground' experience. Does anyone agree? Disagree? Have a better idea?

Love, Respect and just a bit of Ancestor Worship, in this last month of the 'dry season in Humboldt County,

Tom

P.S. Visiting the San Francisco DeYoung Museum at 2AM this morning (grand opening weekend), my lady friend and I could FEEL the end of the building that we were being 'pushed away from' somehow- when we got there, having both expressed tangible, negative effects of 'something in the room', we found the Art of Oceana exhibit..... full of reliquary maskes, drums, fetishes, and tikis, almost ALL containing SOME part of the remains of someone's ancestor that had been 'acquired' by 'collectors' sometime in the 19th century.

CREEPY, and BOTH of us felt is as soon as we were on that floor of the museum. It took us a good half hour or more of wandering the museum floor to actually single-out this end of the building as the source of the trouble, but once we actually SAW what was ahead, it was pretty clear what was up.

Sometimes "wondrous Art" should just be left ALONE!!! Happy Columbus Day (NOT serious).

T

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 26 replies

Witches Ecovillage?

muddygoddess — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:02:56 GMT

I wonder if any of you witches out there are into ecovillages? If so, how do think a pagan ecovillage would do? I love the concept of living in intentional community with people I honor and trust and love. . . . but just recently had the thought that it might be cool to one day have an intentional community of pagans, full time. I mean, people getting together to get some land, share gardens, celebrate solstices and equinoxes . . .

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 0 replies

Thoughts

Rajani — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 22:01:57 GMT

Since Tattoo seems to fuss about us not being an active tribe very often, I thought I would post some of the random thoughts that parade through my head and share some of my discoveries. Feel free to comment or post your own ramblings :-)

I've been reading the book 21 Lessons of Merlyn. It's a collection of stories, more on the true side than the tale tales of legend, and lessons on Druidism. It's been very interesting. Being a woman and Druids being traditionally men makes it an interesting read. But anyway, Merlyn speaks of the Priestesses of Avalon, the female counterparts of Druids and how they worship the Goddess exclusively. This spurred a series of thoughts in the labyrinth I call my mind. When I first discovered Wicca as a battered and boxed Christian, I was drawn almost exclusively to the Goddess and have just recently made peace with the masculine side of divinity. But I still lean more towards the Goddess. But the thought pattern that ensued came to the conclusion that . . . . that's alright. I had been so obsessed with balance, thinking I needed to always invoke the God and Goddess. But I have worshiped God alone for so long that perhaps I havent reached balance yet. And also, if I worship the Goddess in this life, when I am reincarnated as a man to further my development, I will probably be drawn to God again.

Other thoughts: I have recently become a part of the Sacred Mists community. It is a wonderful place to learn, share and grow. The thing I am having difficulty with is their concept of deity. In one of the lessons, it explains that they do not worship the Goddess and God as one is accustomed to thinking of dealing with deity (I guess they mean the Christian idea of worship every Sunday) but think of Them as friends and helpers. But. . . arent the God and Goddess considerably more powerful than us little humans so is just calling on Them as helpers kinda like only needing them for a power boost? I guess the "friends" part kinda takes in communing with Them. I guess I feel there to be a very different feel to the relationship I have with the Goddess and the relationship I have with, say, my Fae friends. Anyone else have any thoughts?

~Blessed be

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 2 replies

Lonely tribe......

tattooshaman — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 07:44:04 GMT

Hi there all. It's been a while since we've had an active tribe. I hope this means that there's lots of Joy in your lives, keeping you away from here. I wish you all the best, and hope the Lady is Present in your lives in all the most wonderful ways.

As the year winds down, now that the Equinox has passed, we begin gathering our "winter families", those people with whom we will spend much of the time indoors, as it's cold and wet outdoors for many of us all winter. Samhain is right around the corner, and I wish you all a happy new year, once it gets here.

Love and Respect,

Tom

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 14 replies

Welcome.

tattooshaman — Mon, 02 May 2005 06:34:45 GMT

Hi there.

Thank you all for joining me here. It'll take some time to "rebuild", but I suspect that things will again become something of which to be proud, eventually.

Please feel free to contribute as you always have.

Love and Respect,

Tom

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 36 replies

full moon gathering

Rajani — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 00:37:29 GMT

I want to start having a get-together on the full moon of each month for my friends ( mostly those in my bellydance group) to honor the Goddess and ourselves as women. I have a few ideas myself of what we should do (meditation, dancing. . . ) but I wanted to just throw the idea out there. Any thoughts or suggestions?

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 3 replies

Devotions

Rajani — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 22:44:53 GMT

What kind of devotional things do you do? Do you have a favorite prayer you say as the sunrises? Or do you meditate on the wonders of the Goddess before an altar? Is there anything you do regularly to show your love for the Goddess? I like rituals, even little ones. But Im curious what other people do. Me myself, I honor the elements every morning and ask for their blessings and thank the Lady for this day. Anyone else got any favorite devotional moments?

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 5 replies

Labels, Names, and other Vocabulary topics...

tattooshaman — Tue, 03 May 2005 22:46:01 GMT

Hi. I brought this from the old space, as it is always a valid discussion topic, ESPECIALLY in an environment inclusive of diverse belief structures. There are some great comments in the thread from whence this came (hey, I got to use "whence" in a sentence today!!! Cool!). If they're yours, please copy and paste them here, or perhaps create new comments.

This post is ONLY my thought on the subject, and comes from no 'tradition' other than my exploration of the religions of the world. It is essentially unedited from the original, except for ONLY three or four words swapped for clarity.

Here goes.......

I have wondered about the insistence of using Names and othre Labels when, in MY experience, She is One Presence, named and described variously depending on when and where She was given those Names. I DO know that many do this for ease of communication, but I also know that many are operating on information that offers NO evidence of the differences of these Goddess Names. It is the 'nature of the beast' that when discussing people/events/deities from the far past, we are left guessing what there was to 'fill in the blanks' in the thin historical record.

My comments here are from MY experience, and your experience will likely differ. To suggest that MY experience in some way invalidates yours, would be unfair. I can only speak of that which I have Seen, Touched, Felt, Heard, and Known. Others may know Her in different circumstances, leaving an entirely different impression. These comments are in NO way intended to invalidate your perceptions of any experience you may have had, as "perception is 9/10ths of reality" and "reality is rarely ever the Whole Truth".

I hope my experience helps some of you address the issues of 'different Names and different Aspects' with more clarity.

****************

There seems to be lots of discussion of various deities, Goddess Aspects and Names of the Goddess from history. I find that this sometimes makes discussion awkward due to various levels of education on the part of participants, and various degrees of obscurity associated with different Names. There is little in the way of 'primary or secondary source' information on MANY of the Goddess Names that are often used in discussion, and that information is often a mere mention or two in some diary or literary work from pre-Christian Rome and Greece, leaving any discussion of the 'reality' of such deities in the realm of speculation and wishful thinking.

We DON'T have good information on many of these Names. Instead, we have what meager bits that people have been able to piece together from the historical record, AND a good dose of hopeful projection of attributes attached to these Names. It is possible that discussion is limited by misinformation as well as 'no information'.

Many times I have pondered the various Names by which She and Others are known. Many times I have wondered if She was, in fact, showing bits and pieces of Herself, or if different deities were, in fact, different deities. Many times I discussed this with Her Daughters. Many times I mulled over MY experience in which Names and Aspects seemed superficial and perhaps even 'obsolete' based on the context in which I first met Her, and then came to Know Her.

During one particularly Joyous and memorable Shamanic Journey when, in conversation with Her, or at least as I sat and listened, it was explained to me that Labels, Names, Aspects and the like are ALL devices by which WE more easily wrap our minds around a concept such as Her Existence. These are Names that WE place upon Her, upon the aspects of Her which we needs must explain to ourselves. It was made abundantly clear that each Name/Deity tracing its history to each locale, exists in the form that the specific culture/society NEEDED of Her at the time of Her first Naming. Over time, these Aspects of Her become less important than the Whole, and over more time lose their necessary emphasis, except in instances where She must again find purchase in the minds of those previously unaware of Her.

Ishtar became Inanna became Aphrodite became Venus as differing cultures had different needs of Her. Many anthropologists acknowledge this progression of Names for the same Aspect as 'civilization' moved west into the Attic plains and on to Rome from an origin in the Fertile Crescent beginning in the flood-plains of the Tigress and Euphrates rivers.

As patriarchal monotheism forcably replaced polytheism, Her Names were abandoned to time, and Her Aspect was translated into someone Not Holy, yet Divine in Mary, the "Mother of God" (I can e-mail you a brief research paper, with sources, documenting this shift over the first millenium C.E.) Local deities or Aspects of Her Whole were co-opted by the Christian Church, as Brigid became St. Brigid, ostensibly the 'fouding' Abbess of a monestary in Ireland, and others around the Christianizing world became 'instant saints', so the locals could identify their past with the current dogma that was forced upon them (forced as in 'if you don't believe, you're a heretic and must be purified by ordeal').

As we move now into this Age of Spiritual Awakening, we find that there is a scramble to associate ourselves with specific Names of the past. We find devoted 'followers' of Isis, and Diana, and Hecate, and dozens of others as people again try to wrap their minds around such an awe-inspiring concept, accepting 'what went before' at face value, since there's no 'road map' for rediscovering Her in this world of concrete and steel in which most of the 'modern' world lives.

As we pursue our individual Searches for Her Truth, we find historical references that describe Aspects of Her that WE recognize from OUR lives, and these references have attached to them, specific Names, which we, in our desire to communicate (even with ourselves) latch onto, in the hopes of finding our Truth and communicating it to others.

If one were to look at how LITTLE we know from primary or secondary sources, of these various references to Female Deity, we begin to realize that of the VERY sparse evidence, much of what describes one Name, fits the description of another, 1000 years earlier, 4000 miles away. There is also the fact that MOST evidence we have of pre-Christian deities, is handed to us by the scholars of early Christianity, often distorted or 'cleaned up' to make it acceptable to the powers-that-be of the time and place.

It was made clear to me that the Feminine Presence to which I refer as "The Goddess" is one and the same with MOST (not all) Names that have been handed down throughout recorded history.

It then became obvious that trying to fit our cosmology and spiritual Truth into poorly defined templates from historical references, was SEVERELY LIMITING our access to Her and to recognize Her as often as She made Herself Known in our lives. Even though I had 'found' references that placed a specific Name upon much of what I Knew, I had failed to See the 'so much more' that She was and is. By expecting "Brigid" we don't see the aquatic nature of Her. By expecting Isis, we don't see the forest Nature of Her. And so on.

When I finally chose (and it IS a choice) to leave Labels and Names behind is when I finally found Her Presence in MUCH of the world around me. It became clear that I had blinded myself to much of Her Truth, simply by trying to fit Her into the proverbial square hole, knocking off those parts that didn't fit well, and creating bits and pieces to fill the gaps that each template left empty who trying to force Her within.

I became aware that Maiden, Mother, Crone, Lover, Destroyer, Chooser of the Slain, Healer, Nymph, etc. are ALL parts of the whole. That seeking the Maiden would prevent me from finding Her, as She is not always Present in the aspect that I desired to find. By seeking the Healer, I might miss the Lover standing next to me. By seeking the Nymph, I might overlook Her aspect as Destroyer, leading to disastrous consequences. By Naming Her or by seperating Her Aspects into distinct entities, I risked losing Her from my perception entirely.

By finally seeking Her in ANY situation in which I might find Her, without Name or Limitations, my life became something that seemed to be out of dreamy fiction, as I began a relationship with Her that I would never have dreamed possibly, except for those things I was told would be possible by those such as Homer, and Saxo Grammaticus, and Virgil, and others who took the time to record what THEY knew.

I still see different Aspects of Her, depending on where I am and who I am with. She 'feels' and 'looks' different to me in the forest than She does in a meadow than She does on a ship at sea. But once I opened my eyes, it became crystal clear that what I was seeing was one and the same, merely labelled differently to fit the requirements of those who needs must describe Her. But, as a dear friend so succinctly put it, "The eyes! They're the same, no matter WHERE I look" which could accurately describe my sense of "the foundation of Her Presence" no matter WHERE I See Her- No matter WHERE I look, She's the SAME.

But then again, this is MY experience. Yours may be different. Yours may work well for you. You may have experience that suggests a specific Name for that which you See. I can't speak to that, beyond what I've said here. If my experiences are helpful to you in articulating that which you aleady Know, I am pleased. If they do not, perhaps you are already certain of your relationship with Her, fully having answered the Questions that arise in your Search. If this is so, I congratulate you. I doubt that my Questions will ever be FULLY answered.

Anyway, I've explained this about as completely as I can. This is MY experience re: Her Name(s).

Love and Respect,

T

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 4 replies

On Love... from my Blog...

tattooshaman — Thu, 09 Jun 2005 02:50:46 GMT

This was posted in my Blog here a few days ago. I have phrased several things for the more mundane audience of the Blog, but those of you here will recognize Her of whom I speak here. I am certain that She has worked in my life for some reason, yet even today, I am uncertain what I have done to deserve such attention.

This will also give those of you who have been here a long while, another insight into why I occasionally revert to a VERY deep, spiritually felt mode. I DO live a spiritual life, and this is one very large reason why.

Enjoy....

"Withdrawls" from TattooShaman's Blog....

Have you ever had a friend in your life where you knew, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that in another life you two had something beyond measure? That in this life, your friendship and affection for one another echo that intensity, leaving you changed, every time you see her (or him)?

There are several women in my life with whom I have the confidence of certainty that what went before was something beyond reckoning, something of a great, mystical nature, as though the Love and Affection between us was something out of legend, something out of a fairy tale. It's not just a trace, but instead like an additional layer of reality, existing beneath or overlaid upon the Loving friendship that we have in this time.

Oh, I'm not talking about having a crush on a friend, although I've been there too, I'm talking about having a friend with whom I share a Love so complete that we would never consider screwing up that friendship by something so silly as to think we need to be dating one another. Such is the case with my friend, K, who came to visit the week before Memorial Day. Such is the case with others currently in my life, and in my past as well.

She's been gone a week, now, and I still turn every corner in my home, still enter every room, expecting to see her sitting there, smiling in her own, magical way. Each time I see that the room is empty, each time I remember putting her on a plane, I feel a sadness, as though something magical, some force of nature out of fantastical fiction, has left with her. This is not someone with whom I have a physical relationship, but a magical, intense Love, without strings or condition, which is the most fulfilling emotion I have ever known, each and every time I feel it.

K is not the only friend with whom I have such a connection, there's an A, another K, a C, an S, and a T (who is gone from my life, never to return from what I can tell) and there would be a third K, and a D, were they to be able to shed some of the cultural inhibition against intimacy that they hold, or perhaps to understand the difference between this and other loves. Not inhibition agains physical intimacy, but against emotional intimacy, as though such things were not to be trusted. Each of these women has affected me in such a way that I spend much of my free time remembering the Joy that they bring into my life, each and every time I see them, speak with them, or receive correspondence (phone call, e-mail, etc.) from them. Each of them knows, by now, that this is not about obsession, not about physical attraction, but instead about that magical connection that some are lucky enough to feel in this lifetime.

Each time they walk into my life, even if only for a few moments, I am again a young man, again filled with hope for this life, that there will again be that Love of a Lifetime that I once had in a partner, but knowing if it is not meant to be, that I have something as valuable, something as magical, with these friends of mine, these Platonic Lovers. Each time they leave, I am again aware of exactly how lucky I am to know them, but feel a sense of an important part of me having been ripped away, and that feeling, although dulled with time, remains.

How is it that a woman gone a week, and another gone four years, can both affect me in the same way, at the same time, without doing a single thing to encourage such? How is it that I am so fortunate to know such incredible women at such an intimate level, yet live in a world where conditions are such that such affection is one that must, by circumstance, be experienced Platonically? How is it that I am able to Love so completely, and to have found these women who Love completely in return?

I always know how furtunate I am, yet sometimes feel that it is also a curse, since such things are near impossible to communicate clearly, leaving me feeling the urge to shout things from the rooftops, when we already know how we feel, and they do return the same emotion to me without condition or limit.

I am pagan, being that not out of some desire to belong, or some wish to believe, but instead because of these and other experiences in my life that leave me unable to accept that there's nothing more than the physical universe, nothing outside of Newton and Einstein and Hawking. Too many times, I have been left gaping, as something magical enters the room, with each of these ladies. Too, I find this same feeling when walking in the redwoods, and every time I'd walk out the door, when I lived up by Yosemite during the 90s. Too many things have occurred that I have only ever found mention of in fiction, mythology, and folklore, for me to deny the existence of that something Else.

I guess I'm still feeling withdrawls from K's visit, but I could never find these withdrawls to be something regretable, since to feel them, I must first feel that magical, mystical, wonderful connection that leads to them.

Thank you, Ladies, for the warmth and magic that you have brought into this life. I only hope that I am someday able to manage these feelings without the sense of loss that arises as you walk out that door each time.......

Love, Respect, and Great Admiration,

Yours Forever,

T

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 5 replies

Women of the Celts in Myth, Legend and Story

Artistpriestess — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 06:24:44 GMT

Women of the Celts in Myth, Legend and Story
I just ran across this website of local legends from the Isle of Pabay, a small island off the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Because this is written from a more local, folklore perspective it contains some interesting information, including the old Gaelic spellings . . .

The Isle of Skye is where the Warrior Priestess Scatha hosted a training camp for Celtic warriors including the legendary Cu Chulainn; the photo reference shows the Coolin' Mountains in the background, which bare the name of the ancient Hero . . . Anam Cara, Bonnie

"Sgathaich (Scatha) was a formidable woman, a teacher of war-craft and a prophetess (Druid?) who foretells Cu Chulainn's future through divination. She was reputed to be the matron of self-defence and female independence as well as the guardian of young people who seek to know their full potential. Men came from further afield than Gaul to train with. her, and if they passed her rigorous tests they were more feared than any other fighting men."

www.pabay.org/skyeviews.html

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 1 reply

co-dependence

Katrina — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 20:04:45 GMT

How would I start moving towards being freed from some levels of co-dependence, in this way, the 'goddess way'? I know they say the third chakra has a lot to do with that... any suggestions-- rituals, prayers, mantras, etc? Thank you. :)

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 4 replies

Kicking it up a notch: Fucking our way to World Peace

Catling — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 08:12:42 GMT

I have made an executive decision to extend Global Orgasm Day until New Year's.

And I personally have a very specific goal in mind:

I am masturbating with pictures of the White House in front of me and creating a Sex Poltergeist to haunt the Bush administration. I intend to aim every orgasm I have for the next week at George Bush and his cabinet. May they drown in desire until it takes over their every waking thought, may the Sex Poltergeist infect everyone in the White House with primal lust until the sex scandal for this administration that finally breaks out in the media... makes that moment with the blowjob in the Clinton administration look pretty fucking tame indeed.

Yes, I realize I'm karmically asking for trouble here... the karmic backlash of this action might keep me mad with desire for the rest of my life. So be it, I'll take one for the team and trust that the sex I have for the rest of this mortal life will be excellent.

Do whatever you feel inspired to in terms of adding to this project, I think we should hit them with lust bombs....

And don't forget to aim your orgasms at trouble spots all over the world, too, fuck your sweetie on a map of the world, for example. Rub your orgasmic juices all over Ireland on a map, spray a load onto Iraq, etc. You get the idea, participate as much or as little as you feel inspired.

=)

Namaste,

Sister Hot Pants, fucking her way to World Peace

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 9 replies

Invitation: A collaborative creation project

Catling — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 01:36:05 GMT

I am trying to launch a collaborative creation project:

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/skreetch

The concept is this:

1. You can create anything you want and send it to the list, rants,
word experiments, poems, MP3s of songs, videos, original scanned art,
photos, stories, essays on any subject you like.

2. Anything sent to the list becomes open source, that means that
once sent to the list anyone on the list can take your work and
"remix" it, create something new, write a sequel to your story... I'm
hoping to get some collaborative serials going where one person starts
a story and another continues it, etc.

I've tried to get this thing off the ground and gotten a few people
signed up, but no one is posting anything but me. Help me out, here!

I'm giving Skreetch one week. If on January 19, 2006 I am still the
only one on the list posting anything, I will declare the experiment a
failure and delete the mailing list and its archives. For one week I
will do my best to try to lure people into the ecstatic joy of
co-creating creative works... if no one is interested, then I'll
shrug, delete the list and concentrate solely on my solo projects.

I know we have some creative folks on here, some talented writers,
artists, musicians. Would you like to collaborate with me and others?

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 2 replies

Being a Vessel

ravendragonsbard — Mon, 16 May 2005 08:46:24 GMT

I was just reading through the ideas behind our tribe here and realized that more than likely those ideas are interpreted in myriad ways. So....

What does it mean in your world view to "be a Vessel" of the Goddess? And what, in your individual world view, mean when someone is a "Chosen" of the Goddess?

Peace,
Raven

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 39 replies

Yule mythos

ravendragonsbard — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 21:06:59 GMT

One of the most interesting and often controversial aspects of paganism in all its flavors is the mythos surrounding the holidays we celebrate. I will grant that there are pagans who do not follow what has been rather entrenched as Wicca's "Wheel of the Year," but at the same time it's difficult to not recognize that there are markers to the year as it changes from season to season.

So...I'm on a quest. I'm looking for your favorite myth/lore/story involving the Goddess at Winter Solstice. Partly because I realized I was bopping along rather unmindfully through the year with the Goddess giving birth at Yule but being the Crone at Samhain. My logical mind kicked in then *G* and I realized that it doesn't make internal sense because I know that it takes 9 months to get from conception to birth so seeing Her as PAST childbearing at Samhain at giving birth at Yule makes my head hurt.

Therefore - I'm very interested as I said in your individual favorite myth/lore/story involving the Goddess at the upcoming Winter Solstice and throughout the year if you wish to share. I think by hearing the stories of others we'll all be enriched.

*G* I hope all that made sense.

Peace,
Raven

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 1 reply

Priestess Path

Mary — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 17:35:37 GMT

Hi everyone. I have been hard at work putting together a website. . . granted it is a work in progress . . . but I think it fills a need within our community that has been long void. It addresses the idea of priests and the path we take to get there. Please visit and let me know what your feed back is. I don't go specificallty into any particular tradition, traditions are very personal. I emphasise cultivating a personal relationship with divinity. . . It is my belief it is that relationship that shapes your tradition.

http://web.mac.com/fperez7172/iWeb/Site/The%20Priestess%20Path.html

I would love to hear what you have to say about this site in it bare bones state. . . it would be of tremendous help in my efforts to be of service to my community and my Goddesses.

Sat Nam
Mary

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 0 replies

Samhain Senses

ravendragonsbard — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 21:08:18 GMT

That hint of snow you smell on the wind as it blows smoke from a pinon fire past.
The warmth of the sun superimposed over the chill wind on your skin.
The clatter, rustle, and dry crackle of leaves as you walk.
Bright half moon against an ebony velvet sky draws your eye and heart.

Another year, another Samhain. May the day bring you the gifts and blessings you most need.

Peace,
Raven

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 1 reply

Ritual and magic

Zachar — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 18:53:47 GMT

Greetings all my love,

So as I mentioned I am returning myself to a space that I am inviting in magic and ritual. I don't really remember any rituals that resonate with me any longer besides my offerings to the ocean when I am there.

I am guided by Yemaya and have a deep connection with the lovely lady redwoods(I happen to have a few in my berkeley backyard). I'd like to ask you all of some ideas or rituals that I can play with a establish a routine in doing.

I'm also just now learning of Samhain and other days of natural signifigance. I had an awesome equinox and began some powerful manifestations.

Really I look up to many of you for your commitment to Her and to remaining connected to nature and cycles. Any thing you have to offer me will be greatly appreciated.

Love and light,
~Zachar

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 0 replies

Help Save Tara!

FyreChyld — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 23:06:56 GMT

Please help save Tara (Irelands most sacred place) by signing the worldwide petition at the link below and stop them from building the Motorway through Tara. All info is in the petition. Be sure to cut & paste this petition on all your Pagan groups & Forums. get your Covens & Groves to sign it. This is very important! PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF THE GODS SIGN! Thank You!

http://www.petitiononline.com/hilltara/petition.html

go na Tiarna agus Bantiarn coill glas beannacht glas tu!
(Irish Gaelic for)
May the Lord and Lady of the Green Wood Bless you!

/|\ Gypsy /|\

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 0 replies

The Wheel Turns - Lammas

ravendragonsbard — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 03:39:51 GMT

I realize that not everyone celebrates Lammas (also known as Lughnasadh and many other names), but there is something about this time of year - that strikes a chord for me. It's a time when those who garden are getting ready to start harvesting the fruits of their labor. Across the country there are county fairs and even State fairs happening in August and into September - most of them a celebration of the agricultural produce of that state or county - not just on a large scale but on the small. As I was thinking about it today I realized that when I was a young girl and later a teen going to the county fair where I grew up and participating in it was very much in the spirit of Lammas. Of seeing that first hint of the colder days, of putting up fruits, vegetables even meats against the coming cold of winter...

I've often said that my "first meeting" with Her was much later. Now that I look back and really LOOK... I see that She was there long before I was consciously aware of Her.

So, have a Happy Lammas everyone and enjoy this time of year.

Peace,
Raven

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 1 reply

Meetings

ravendragonsbard — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 05:24:25 GMT

Okay, I'm not sure exactly how on topic this really is (and if I haven't chosen the right venue - well - mea culpa).

How does a woman meet herself?

I realize that we talk here about meeting Her all the time. And She is part and parcel of our experiences. I Know Her. I can See Her in myself and all that. But, I think this question covers something that also has to happen during our (well MY anyway) journey on the path of Knowing Her.

Peace,
Raven

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 7 replies

This Goddess is in need of positive energy and health!

IncendiaryFairy — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 00:01:50 GMT

i rarely ask for much, so please, please, please, vibrate some good healing energy this way....

My mom, was diagnosed with and cured from bladder cancer some years ago. She has been living a healthy and active life since....she is in early 60's. Currently she is in Montana, in the hospital. She went there because of a kidney infection, and after being sent home, she had to return, because she was unable to keep anything in her stomache.

They have run many tests, the biggest of which she is being transported to another facility to have, which is a PETSCAN. She has something growing in her stomache.

Please visualize this as a harmless cyst, with a simple removal and no cancer please.....

My mother is a goddess! But is not in anyway ready to go love with the gods......

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Peace,

another mom in the making.....

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 3 replies

Lady Liberty???

tattooshaman — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 17:43:35 GMT

Hello fellow Goddess lovers. I've got a question for the more scholarly in our midst.

Does anyone know if Lady Liberty has a history that goes beyond the French Revolution, 18th century art, and the like? I know she was painted "on the barricades" during the French Revolution, but can't seem to find any credible references prior to that.

Does anyone a mythology (other than the mythology of the United States) in which Liberty appears?

Sorry if this is a bit odd, but hey, what are friends for?

Love and Respect,

Tom

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 3 replies

Male temple prostitute/priest

Zachar — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 07:57:06 GMT

Hello all. It's been a while since I've been on here, and I'm glad to be here again.

So I am choosing to be affiliated with the Temple of Venus Camp this year at burning man. It is a camp dedicated to the goddesses of the playa. The are going to be three tents. The body working tent, emotional tent, and the main tent which is dedicated to sensual and sexual pleasures for the goddesses.

I am surely going to be offering my services in the first two tents and most likely the main tent as well. I love being of service to the Goddess in many ways and to her many forms.
I know that we are creating a sacred space and that we offer sacred services in all the tents.

I'm curious what you all think and can share with me.

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 4 replies

Summer Solstice

hd_babe — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 19:07:48 GMT

I would like to do something special for this year, mainly because I haven't done much in the past.

What are some common rituals or some Goddess prayers that anyone here would suggest? It will be just me so most likely I'll just be out at the beach or in my room with my tiny little alter.

;-)

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 8 replies

"Temple Prostitutes"

tattooshaman — Fri, 06 May 2005 19:47:39 GMT

We've heard a bunch here about Sacred Ritual for the bride-to-be, Vashti (congratulations, beautiful Lady) in the last few days. Raven mentioned something about "Groom's ritual" in that thread.

Vashti, I'm going to be using some humor here, but I do NOT want you to take this as my treating your marriage or ritual with anything but reverence. It's just that humor, by its very nature, MUST be delivered in context, or it is no longer humor, but instead becomes anything from "vaguely amusing" to "completely offensive". So, with this said, I am moved to first answer Raven's latest post, before I go into the discussion of the Temple Prostitute of Ancient Sumeria/Babylon.

OK Ladies, before reading the first half of this post, please place tongue firmly in cheek, and realize that, though I speak about the real world here, I am not advocating anything beyond what Raven suggests..... HONESTLY!.... No, REALLY!

>>"Since I finished it I've thought that Grooms may enjoy a similar ritual."<<

Um..... some of us already have such rituals. They're called Bachelor's Parti.... uh.... I mean, "They're called Male Marriage Rituals with Sacred Priestesses in the Babylonian and Sumerian tradition, facilitating Divine Sanction upon the marriage through the person of the Priestess who BECOMES the Goddess during these rituals, just as the wafer and the wine BECOME, through the miracle of Transmogrification (yeah, I know) the "body of Christ, the blood of Christ" during the sacrament of Holy Communion. Ain't ritual cannibalism grand??? Be sure to thank these Priestesses for sanctifying your vows" >;o}

OH! You mean, PAGAN rituals for MEN (not that Inanna-Ishtar and other Sumerian/Babylonian goddesses AREN'T pagan)..... entreating MALE deity such as, say..... Bacchus or Dionysius or even Shiva? Hmm.... I think they've ALL got it right - it must be pretty interesting to be THE Drunken Fertility Figure on the top rung of your pantheon, with goddesses for "consorts" and bedmates. What a wonderful job that must be.

*** Please remove tongue from cheek now***

So, here's my point- Is the Western World ready for being honest with itself about traditions that go back thousands of years, but have become UNsacred, due to the loss of the Sacred, and the demonification of sexuality by an Abrahamic history and Puritanical aversion to absolutely natural acts?

We pay a LOT of lip service to "reclaiming goddess tradition", in fact, I'm enrolled in one such seminar for Summer Session, here at Humboldt State Univeristy. A holistic study of goddess tradition will inevitably bring us to the concept of Temple Prostitute (when prostitute was NOT a bad word, but instead a Sacred Calling).

The Temple Prostitute was a postition filled by middle and upper-class women, prior to their marriage ususally, available and recommended for ALL women, who prior to marriage, would enter the Temple and serve as Temple Priestess/Prostitute for however long it took for them to be "selected" by a Temple patron. They would then, without reservation, conduct the ritual of Sacred Sexual Union, embodying the Goddess Herself, during the act, thereby facilitating the patron's 'sacrament' and 'prayers' in this Heiros Gamos (Sacred Marriage in Ancient Greek language).

Upon completing this "service", the woman would then leave the temple, her chastity intact, since she was not herself engaged in this ritual lovemaking, but instead used as a willing Vessel for the Goddess who, THROUGH her, would be the one who "did the act" with the patron.

The word "prostitute" wasn't that in ancient Sumerian, but the Latin from which that word comes, WAS coincident to its use, since these temples survived into Ancient Rome. It was the Christian and Judaic clergy who, through scorn and derision, turned this word into a "bad thing", just as they used the word "pagan" to mean "hillbilly", as a derogatory word describing 'rural' people who had not yet become 'converted' to Christianity.

Throughout the millennia, the word "prostitute" has, through common usage, become synonymous with "whore", in act, in fact, and instead of its original meaning, but one should never mistake the original intent behind the name- that a woman, acting with Intent and in Sacrament, could "channel" the person of the Goddess, during the act of lovemaking, on Sacred Ground.

In the other space we spoke AT LENGTH about the "Sacred Whore" and the "Heiros Gamos". Much was said about women today, many of whom joined us, and some of whom are here now, who continue to pursue this Calling, as an life of Sacrament, making Love in the name of the Goddess. Some of these Ladies, and there are MOST certainly Ladies who joined us to discuss that, have a well developed philosophy, and were able to express their desire and intent to continue/revive this tradition.

I'm wondering, however, if our culture, even modern "enlightened" pagan culture, is still too well-steeped in this Puritanical tradition, to accept such things as Sacred? Or are we doomed instead to presuming, despite many claims by pagan women of "true Belief in the Goddess", that such things are tantamount to "adultery" or "cheating", instead of what they were, in the ORIGINAL Goddess traditions- an act of Sacred Lovemaking between a man and the Goddess.

If this aversion/characterization is prevalent here, is this due instead to a belief that such "channeling" or "being a Vessel" is, in FACT, 'hogwash' or 'charlatanism'? Do the claims of True Belief fall apart when one is confronted by someone, equally steadfast in her True Belief, who claims to be a modern equivalent of the Temple Prostitute?

Some of you believe the Goddess to be something different- not an individual Sentience at all, and I DO understand that. Some are merely learning to examine their beliefs, and have NO belief, one way or the other on this subject. There is no prejudice in this quest of mine. Your views are equally desired here, even if they are that "it's all hogwash and an excuse to get laid, and that's all it was way back yonder in Babylon, too". Just please keep this discussion respectful, and free of antagonism. Some here actually have chosen this as their life's Calling, and they have, through their comport and demeanor, proven themselves to be Ladies here, without question.

I do not wish to color this discussion beyond the mention that it is my belief that I have experienced exactly this Possession in a woman, in this lifetime, and in large part, my paganism today is DUE to the obvious reality of what I was Seeing and Experiencing with my wife and others, in the last 20 years or so of my life. Sure, I could have been imagining things, but the 'me' you all know from these threads is who I am BECAUSE of this belief.

Others here have expressed similar experience, although I do not know that any of us have experienced these things 'together' in the same space at the same time, nor do I expect ANYone to believe that I wasn't just having LSD flashbacks, since we all know that such Possession would have to be Satan, since "if it ain't Jesus, it MUST be the Devil" according to many on this planet.

I have written on this subject in the past, and will go to my grave Knowing what I experienced. I ALSO know that there is NO way one can possibly "explain the truth of this" to another- it must be experienced to be believed, since we're talking about claims of Diving Possession here, not "well, it might be- I couldn't be sure". The funny thing is, I am certain of my experience, but at the same time, since I am unable to recreate such experience upon demand, or able to share this experience with whomever I wish, there will ALWAYS be questions in my mind as to "why me" and "why her" and "am I going insane???" and "if insanity is like this, call me a LOON and keep your thorazine away from me!".

Born-again Christians will tell you, with a slightly glazed, far-away look on their face, of "taking their Lord.... blah blah... into their heart... blah" as a Religious Experience that changed their lives forever. The experience I speak of here, had the same impact upon me, and I will be FOREVER changed, forever In Love With the Goddess, as a DIRECT result of such things.

I don't EVER expect anyone to believe that my reality could possibly to accurate for ANY other human being, except those others who were present when these things occurred in MY life, who concur with me as to what happened in THEIR lives at those same moments. I do know, however, that there are many here who claim to Know the Goddess, in one form or another, in VERY real terms, and I'm curious exactly how this belief that some of you hold, squares with the idea that ANOTHER woman could, in fact, be the 'real thing', with the Divine acting through her/them.

Do "Western Value" preclude extending this Belief to the point of removing the concept of "monogamy" or "being faithful" because there's a Goddess on the other end of the equation, instead of "another woman"? If this truly IS the Divine, would concepts of "self", such as "jealousy", really have a place in such things?

Please, none of you take this discussion as my advocacy of such things in anyone else's lives. Besides, these experiences didn't involve one who had actually planned this, or thought this would happen to them. This discussion and quest is due to deeply precious experiences in my life, and I am wondering if the world in which I live is TRULY trying to "reclaim goddess traditions", as it seems to shout as loudly and as often as someone else will listen (or if this Belief in the Goddess and Her possession of individual women is vastly different from ancient traditions and beliefs, or merely a matter of 'convenience', until Puritanical Values are triggered in the Believer).

Sorry to have taken so many pages to write this. I am flattered that you've read this far. ;o)

Love, Respect, and Forever in Love,

Tom

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 13 replies

First Awareness, Revisited

tattooshaman — Tue, 03 May 2005 07:22:47 GMT

Hey there folks.

This is a thread from the old tribe, and there were some amazing, honest, beautiful stories there, so if you wish to "copy and paste" your old stories here, they will be welcome. If some of you have stories you haven't shared yet, I'm certain we'd love to hear them, and rest assured your experiences will be received with the respect and reverence with which they are offered.

Each and every one of us had a different story of when, where, how and under what circumstances we first became aware that what we were seeing was NOT what normative culture would call 'normal' by their standards.

I was fortunate enough to have some spectacular women explain to me what I was seeing as part of a shamanic training, and what it meant that I COULD see it. Since that time in my late teens when things were first explained to me, I have been fortunate to encounter Her Presence in women I've met, many, MANY times. It really is one of the most beautiful things to see and to know what you are looking at.

Ladies, for you, I know, the experience is different. By definition, it must be. I've had it explained to me a dozen different times, and each anecdote appears to have several things in common- a) that the woman was aware of Her, long before the veil of Her mystery was lifted, b) that the woman experiencing Her had some level of communication, one or two way, with Her, often written off as an overactive imagination, and c) having been trained by culture to ignore Her or to fear the experience as mental illness or even worse, Satan (!?!?!), a woman often spends years seeking answers before Awareness strikes leaving NO question AT ALL in her mind what that Presence is.

I'm curious how many of you ladies had a similar experience. I suspect that aside from having Her in common, having been Chosen (I believe this, too) means that you are likely to have other things in common, like experiences with Her Presence while interracting with others.

I know that things of this nature can be pretty personal, but I suspect that for the first time, many of us now in contact with others through this tribe, have an opportunity to discuss things with others who might actually know what we're talking about.

If you wish to share your experiences, I promise that your honesty will be respected, and that no matter how strange your story sounds.

For those of you who are taking someone's word that you are, in fact, living proof of the Goddess, perhaps you will find similarity with the stories of others and through them, have the lightbulb go off saying "I KNEW it! And all this time my ex told me I was insane. That fucker!"

As our tribe grows and evolves, I will offer anecdotes from my personal experience which may well shake some stuff loose, too.

Looking forward to your responses.

Love and Respect,

T

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 18 replies

greetings

topaz08 — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 19:34:42 GMT

Hello everybody

Thank you for inviting me to join this group. I am a pagan woman in Humboldt county, California, teacher of mysteries and sacred pathways. I lead tours to the ancient sacred sites of Britain, which is my homeland. I am a writer and labyrinth builder and am in love with the Goddess in all her manifestations.

Blessed Be

Chamomile

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 1 reply

Changing requirements....

tattooshaman — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 13:51:44 GMT

Hi, I love this tribe, but it's kinda dead lately. I've decided to change to a "moderated" membership , from the "private" that it has been, in hope of stimulating discussion and dialogue. Please let me know if you think this is a mistake (Moderated means one must be invited or ask for membership- can't just joing without SOME connection being made).

Love and Respect,

Tom

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 3 replies

SoulFire Haven Festival ~ Litha

Vashti — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 23:35:46 GMT

SoulFire Haven Festival ~ Litha

Date & Time: Friday, June 23, 2006 - Sunday, June 25, 2006
Gates Open: 10:00 AM
Location: Wiley, Colorado

SoulFire Haven - sacred festivals bringing the old traditions of
honoring the cycle of life and the changing of the seasons back into
the view of the community.

Our mission is to provide a sacred haven for people of all communities
and beliefs to come together and celebrate the changing of the seasons
in the old ways. Specifically allowing for anyone to feel safe to be
themselves within their personal beliefs and faiths.

SoulFire Haven festivals are for all 8 seasonal holidays.
~Imbolg, Ostara, Beltaine, Litha, Lughnadsa, Mabon, Samhain, and Yule.~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For Litha we are asking for a $10 donation at the gates to help pay
for the portapotties and the meat for the Feast.

This is a weekend camping event. Please be prepared to bring all
appropriate gear and supplies for you and those in your care. The
weather in Wiley, CO tends towards about 15 degrees hotter than
Denver, please keep this in mind when packing your clothes.

All ages are welcome! Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied
by an adult. Children under 16 without their legal guardian must
provide emergency contact info.

There will be a small clothing optional area, because of the size of
this space it will be first come, first serve. Not everyone is
comfortable with open nudity and with our rule of observing personal
boundaries, if you want to be bare - please stay in bare country.

The Main Ritual will be at sundown on Saturday and includes:
The traditional symbolic battle between the Summer and Winter Kings,
A Midsommer Feast
drumming, a bonfire, dancing and firespinning
(please bring fresh fruits/veggies to share at the feast.)

Workshops and the children's ritual will start at 1pm Saturday.
(Families with children - please bring a mason jar with lid or glass
jar equivalent and something small and shiny for their ritual. They
will be gathering water from the local creek and giving their gifts to
the Goddess of the waters.)

A bathing/cleansing New Moon ritual will take place on Friday night.
This is open to all and there is nudity involved, however, no one but
the priest/esses providing the ritualistic bath to each participant
individually, within a dome structure, will see the nudity.
This ritual is not sexual in any way - it is a chance to be cleansed
by the Triple Moon Goddess ~ Diana/Selena/Hecate.

If it gets too hot for you during the day - Our host/ess have put
forward the welcome to go into the air conditioning of their home and
visit with our Mama Gaia - Vashti. She will be doing henna designs on
anyone who would like one for free also. (Pregnant women get special
treatment as our hostess is VERY pregnant and willing to share the
bathroom in her house with others in a similar state. They call it the
pregnancy privilege.)

Our main rules:
Respect other's personal boundaries, if you don't know - ask.
Participate!
Leave No Trace
Respect other's beliefs - as you would like yours respected.
No commerce.
No Pets

If you would like to lead a workshop or smaller ritual specific to
your tradition/path, please contact Moonfire immediately. Especially
if it is to be done in skyclad - we must make sure to leave enough
room for you in bare country. All workshops for SoulFire Haven
Festivals are to be an opportunity to share your personal traditions
and rituals with new people.

All drummers are welcome and encouraged, as are firespinners and
Trance/Ambient DJs. If you would like to be a DJ for this event -
please contact Moonfire ASAP.

Goto: groups.yahoo.com/group/soulfirehaven/ for more information and
to participate in the other holiday festivals.

********
If you are interested, and would like directions, kindly IM me and I'll be happy to give you additional information. You are all most welcome at my home for this beautiful loving celebration.

Many blessings to all at In Love With the Goddess,
Vashti

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 0 replies

New members!!!! PLEASE read!

tattooshaman — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 13:53:25 GMT

Hi there, and welcome to the tribe. This is a VERY special place to many of us, so PLEASE take the time to read the ENTIRE mission statement of the tribe, which can be found in the tribe's description at the top of the page.

It is vitally important to me and others in the membership that THIS tribe NOT be treated as so many other online spaces are, and instead is treated with respect and reverence for the beautiful space it has become. I appreciate your cooperation.

Respect,

Tom

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 0 replies

the goddess artio?

TINY — Tue, 16 May 2006 18:11:23 GMT

im looking for info on the goddess artio or artia any help would be appreciated.

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 4 replies

Beltaine

ravendragonsbard — Tue, 02 May 2006 16:11:57 GMT

Hey everyone, it's been a while since I started a thread. I was wondering if anyone had any fantastic Beltaine experiences this year.

I spent Beltaine in my OWN place finally. The day before I visited Vashti who celebrated her first wedding anniversary yesterday AND come July will be a mom.

For me this Beltaine was one of reconnection as well as shedding much that over the last three years has kept me from being as authentic as I could be. My new home is now filled with Love and warmth and is rapidly becoming the haven I want it to be not only for me but for friends. *G* I just have to either make LOTS of floor pillows or get something more to sit on besides one chair.

So, what has this Beltaine been for folks?

Peace,
Raven

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 3 replies

Speaking of the Kali -ma. . .

Mary — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 00:31:53 GMT

I thought that it was time that I shared my experience with her. It has happened months ago and it took this long to absorb the depth and unwind the confusion of the events that her coming unleashed. I had been experiencing issues with a friend whom she herself was unleashing her own chaos in my life leaving me angry and drained on a regular basis.

I went to Barnes and Noble to uncloud my head when I saw Her. Actually I saw the last chance bin first. The items on this in felt like the discard bin of unworthy items. I love books to no end and to have them considered, in any condition, to be discardable is an atrocity in my eyes. I almost walked away when I caught a quick glimmer comming from the very bottom shelf of the bin. She stood there in her box proud and mighty unwilling to allow the assesment on man to fall upon Her. The shredded box itself defied the judgement. Kali ma! I couldn't walk away. WHat kind of Goddess worshiper would I be if I allowed her to stay and be discarded? Wasn't happening. I picked her up and took her to the register to pay and as i walked out I knew that I was not to be the same again.

Shortly after taking her home I began to see the Tower card and I could see her arms dancing in the flames. I knew my earth was going to shake. I calmed myself and allowed the process to happen knowing that She changes everything She touches and that sometimes the process is one of loss and pain to get to where you are going. It finally happened in February. . . the ground trembled beneath my feet and the Kali- ma within burst forth as for the umpteenth millionth time my " friend" continued to insult and impune me for being what I am and insisted that I change for her benefit. I felt Her errupt from the very base of my spine swinging her bloody sword in my defense with tongue in full loll. She had had enough of my gentle manner of handling this broken person for fear of causing more damage. She had had enough of my taking the blow full force and offering a tissue for my friend to wipe her nose on.

I no longer call this person friend and I no longer speak with her, although I do wish her well and pray for her healing. I can't allow her to beat me to a bloody pulp because she is unbalanced and wishes company in her misery. The tower came shook and bled at the hands of Kali and I am most grateful for her presence.

Sat Nam
Mary

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 0 replies

New members- Welcome......

tattooshaman — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 04:44:34 GMT

There's been a BUNCH of new members since the last time we had an "introduce yourself" thread up.

Feel free to take a moment to say hello and introduce yourself. NO one is to feel obligated to do so, but we are such an active community that it's nice to know a tiny bit about the people who do join in the discussions, and to know something about those who just sit by and watch (which you are VERY welcome to do).

I'd just like to say "Thank You" to all who have joined us and helped make us the most wonderful pagan tribe I know.

Love and Respect,

Tom

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 10 replies

Poetry and Prose Corner

ravendragonsbard — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 23:16:59 GMT

*G* I KNOW there are some fantastic poets in this tribe as well as some equally fantastic prose authors. So....please share? I haven't anything really new, but here are a couple that are relatively recent.

Poem 45

In the deeps of night restless I lie.
She reaches for me. Her arms
White
Black
Red
Brown
Gold
Silver
Steel
Bring me close and closer yet.
I yield up only to be yielded to
Dance we two
Melding, breaking, remaking, unmaking
me/Her/me/Her/me/Her/me/Her/me/Her/me/Her…

US

copyright TLinder March 2005

BEST BELOVED

She comes to me
In dark of night.
Flash of Light
Burn of Flesh
Quenching need.

Best Beloved.
Voice that soothes,
Thrills my heart
Calms all fear.

She comes to me
In Rosy Dawn.
Rise of Song
Cooléd brow
Waking dreams.

Best Beloved.
Voice that beckons,
Inspires my thoughts
Encourages all hope.

She comes to me
In Light of Noon.
Dance of Toil
Furrowed soul
Planting priests.

Best Beloved.
Voice that anchors,
Grounds my spirit
Strengthens all belief.

She comes to me
In Purple Twilight.
Fall of Shade
Flare of passion
Waking Love.

Best Beloved.
Voice that whispers,
Ignites my essence,
Opens all doors.

She comes to me –

Architect of Tricks,
Laughter Maker,
Story Teller,
Desire Slaker.

Best Beloved.

copyright TLinder March 2005

And a not so new prose piece I wrote in 2000

THE CAULDRON
I am.... a cauldron cuddler. Yes, I cuddle my new cauldron. I embrace it in my hands and stare into its newly inky yet to be filled depths and am in love. I wrap my arms around it, holding it close to my body between solar plexus and belly and feel the most complete I have in a long time. Where my athame always speaks to what is bright and sharp and honed in my soul (or in need of a few turns of the sharpening stone), my cauldron calls deeper...reminding me of parts that I felt I must give up...disown in order to remain somewhat sane. It speaks to me of motherhood, cuddling small bodies close to me, hearing their laughter as they play - all my small dears, the ones I've prevented because I didn't have time, or money, choosing what some may see as selfishness in order to prevent a worse crime - untimely birth...and here, cauldron cuddled close, I touch what could have been, and feel content - no longer divorced from that part of me, but again at peace - a little sad every once in awhile - but still at peace. And I smile, and giggle and feel oh so much more solid and _here_ than ever before. I touch ME again - a me I had thought I had lost in the midst of bewildering new information...but I'm still here, still me, never lost - just a few new shoots that bring the core of me into a different expression, transforming not into something new, but more real. I cuddle my cauldron and listen. I listen to the wind walk, the trees sing, the fair folk giggle, and the moon laugh. I am a cauldron cuddler, a witch, and damn proud of it.

copyright TLinder 2000

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 13 replies

chakra help

Katrina — Mon, 27 Mar 2006 19:13:10 GMT

My second chakra has been ´off´ for a while, I know this for various reaons, mainly because of physical manifestations. But anyway, I´m wondering if any of you have suggestions on things I can do (on all levels) to help re-balance this chakra. Thanks!

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 5 replies

Thinking of You All

tigresssky — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 20:49:23 GMT

Don't come onto Tribe much anymore. Read this in another community I belong to and it made me think of you all. So here I share.

~TigressSky~

-------------------------------------

Admit It and Change Everything

Define and narrow me, you starve yourself of yourself.
Nail me down in a box of cold words, that box is your coffin.
I do not know who I am.
I am not a Christian, I am not a Jew, I am not a Zoroastrian,
And I am not even a Muslim.
I do not belong to the land, or to any known or unknown sea.
Nature cannot own or claim me, nor can heaven,
Nor can India, China, Bulgaria,
My birthplace is placelessness,
My sign to have and give no sign.
You say you see my mouth, ears, eyes, nose ~ they are not mine.
I am the life of life.
I am that cat, this stone, no one.
I have thrown duality away like an old dishrag,
I see and I know all times and worlds,
As one, one, always one.
So what do I have to do to get you to admit who is speaking?
Admit it and change everything!
This is your own voice echoing off the walls of God.

- by Rumi

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 1 reply

Scholarship and Spirituality

ravendragonsbard — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 04:02:53 GMT

I've kinda hit a bit of a conundrum lately. So, I thought I'd bring it here for y'all to chew over, maybe shed some light on things for me.

While I enjoy and actually advocate research into the different mythos patterns of the world for pagans...at what point is it too much? Is it possible we can lose sight of the spiritual by getting caught up in our heads too much? I'm finding myself in a bit of a debate on another tribe about the relevance of North American as opposed to British Isles agricultural cycles when it comes to celebrating four of the festivals variously identified as Wiccan, Celtic and Pagan i.e. Imbolc, Beltaine, Mabon and Samhain.

I'm finding myself rather resistant to regimenting my spiritual feeling according to something folks want to nit pick over.

I guess I'm wondering if anyone else has run up against this feeling that while it's cool to know what my ancestors did and why - their why doesn't need to be nor should be MY why.

Or maybe I'm still loopy from my recent bout with "FLU 2006" *G*

Peace,
Raven

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 3 replies

Starting the adoption process

Stacie — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 03:19:35 GMT

My husband and I are going to adopt an older child through the county's special needs program. While religion is not as much of a factor if we do it this way, I am looking for creative ways to gently introduce my new child (who will likely be between 4-10) to the goddess. Mind you, many of these kids have been living in foster homes that may or may not be Christian. My kid may come with some already formed ideas about the divine. I do NOT want to be preachy, but want to raise my child to have goddess-affirming values.

Any thoughts?

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 6 replies

This Winter....

tattooshaman — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 23:23:21 GMT

..... seems to be a repeat of last winter, with all kinds of stray energy floating around, magical people entering my life, magical people sharing themselves with me, or as a friend who came to visit the other day said "things are accellerating".

I wonder who else is experiencing an increase in the magical energies around them- who esle is experiencing Her presence in more people than 'usual'- who else is feeling charged with a sense that things are 'building up to something incredible'.

Anyone?

T

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 15 replies

Happy Winter Solstice Everyone!

FyreChyld — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 14:58:20 GMT

Hope the Gods grant you all your wishes this Holiday Season.

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 4 replies

Things for which I give Thanks

tattooshaman — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 21:06:18 GMT

For the members of this tribe who have all helped make this place the one place online where I can celebrate the Goddess with whom I am in Love, and all Her Daughters who are gracious enough to share a bit of Her with me, without having to suffer the slings and arrows that afflict so many other pagan sites

For the beauty and joy that the Ladies in my life share with me

For the Love and care that I receive from my wonderful friends and Family

For those who selflessly allow me to Love them in my own, unusual way

For the amazing Healers who have given me my life back, taking me from a place of pain and debilitation, without hope, and returning me to a life of activity and celebration that was forever gone to me (thank you, Elise and Lauren and Madelyn)

For the people who have continued to support my efforts at getting my college education finalized and have offered me emotional, intellectual, spiritual and financial support along the way (including the faculty at Humboldt State University and the taxpayers who make Financial Aid possible for college students)

For all those artists around me in school whose feedback has improved my paintings more than any single other factor

For the redwoods of the Redwood Coast of California, Humboldt County, Arcata, California, and all those people therein who have welcomed me exactly as I am, eliminating the need so many pagans have to 'filter' through a lens of 'normalcy' to avoid problems with the rest of the world (I recommend this area to all pagans who wish to live a spiritual life without fear of being judged negatively for their beliefs- we're everywhere here)

Thank you all.

Love and Respect,

T

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 1 reply

Live 8

ali-cat — Sun, 10 Jul 2005 03:36:32 GMT

l've spent the last couple of hours watching the Live 8 benefit, the sister benefit to Live Aid back in the 80's, for poverty in Africa and around the world, and l find myself in tears. l don't know why; maybe it's that the vibe here reflects the first Live Aid or Woodstock than the travesty that Woodstock '99 did...maybe it's having some real music legends participate and generate amazing response...maybe it's that l'm seeing young adults who didn't know who Paul McCartney was before this jam out to the music...maybe it's just the power of community. And maybe it's because l lived in Kenya for a number of years and have seen this sort of poverty first hand, in fact, lived right smack in the middle of it, and truly understand just how much something like this can and will help.

As much bullshit as is going on in the world right now, l feel so very blessed to see people give a damn, and even those who just came there to see their favorite idols are supporting something REAL. And for all of you who want to respond with "Yeah, but what difference does it make?", save your depressive opinions and, frankly, bite me. lf we didn't have these kind of positive efforts, our world would suck far more than it does at the moment.

lf you think you've seen it all, if you think you couldn't be any more shocked or angered by what's going on, ask me what it was like to consistently live with the smell of beer and urine, to see children drinking out of gutters littered with trash, dirt, and infected with the urine and feces of the various animals around. lf you think you're desensitized to it, ask me what it was like to see countless limbless children begging for money, to be caught up in political riots that left countless dead, to have no electricity or water for days. And then ask me what it felt like to go back to my luxurious existence as a citizen of the US, a country l neither identified with, nor was ever comfortable with. Ask me how hypocritical it felt to be PART of this, and then have an alternative life that included all the things my life before didn't.

Some of you may find everything l just said to be the very reason you think nothing will ultimately ever be done, but l grew up in a humanitarian community that sought to make a difference here, and did. Maybe this is why you're not happy with what IS being done, but if you've seen what l've seen, you might think again before questioning it. When you've BEEN there, on whatever level, you don't wish for more. You take what you can get.

lf we aren't part of the solution, then we're part of the problem. l encourage you to do what you can.

www.live8live.com
www.care.org (this is one of the organizations my parents now work with)

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 26 replies

Full Moon in Taurus

IncendiaryFairy — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 20:00:46 GMT

From http://www.astrowisdom.com/thisfullmoon.htm

Full Moon in Taurus
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
4:57pm PST
23º 46'

Taurus is a show-me sign; a grounded, earthy, full-body experience. The Moon in Taurus is big reminder that it is our actions here on earth which matter most for bringing an end to the suffering and pain humans cause each other, our animal and plant brothers and sisters, and our collective Mother, the Earth. How we walk through life, how we treat other life forms makes the difference between ignorance and enlightenment. What the Moon in Taurus wants most to convey is the message that all the wisdom of the universe is already present in your body; particularly in the human brain. There is nowhere to go, nothing higher than the multileveled intricacy of the brain we have each been gifted. Enlightenment is ever-present; lying dormant, waiting for each of us to awaken, through meditation, the totality of the pre-frontal lobe's synaptic connections. This is a powerful Full Moon to gather with others and commit to realizing your birthright: an enlightenment that is embodied, selfless and deeply committed to ending the physical suffering of all other sentient beings.

Let's start by reminding ourselves that Taurus, the opposite sign of Scorpio, suggests that life doesn't have to be so intense; a great reminder for this particular Full Moon. Life can be beautiful, warm, soft, loving, and sensual. It can be filled with the pleasures of family and friends, good food, beautiful surroundings, great music and art, and all things that help soothe and heal anxiety and worry. AND…. Finally today, Uranus goes direct! So even though Mars is retrograde in Taurus, for the first time since March 2004 all the outer planets are traveling forward for period of about seven days. Enjoy the ease of motion while it lasts.

This Taurus Full Moon conjoins a retrograde Mars (war) in Taurus. Taurus rules security: personal security, homeland security, and global security. Hence our inability to extricate ourselves from the idea that war is a viable solution to security. But we must if we are to survive. Taurus is a sign that knows how hard life can be and with Mars in Taurus we could certainly mistake self-gratification for basic survival. Taurus fears starvation, sickness, lack of shelter and comfort. This is why it craves security, possessions and comfort; and once gotten, holds them so tightly.

The Full Moon in Taurus is the time to face personal and national selfishness and greed. America is the richest nation in the world; our comforts run counter to the glaring poverty all around us. We have allowed our government to do terrible things around the globe to ensure our survival; but now our war making must stop. What America wants and what it needs are two different things. Yes we need to celebrate our own self-worth and enliven self-confidence, but self-worth does not come from how much power, control and wealth we have; rather from how much we selflessly give away. The best way I know of to ensure survival is to think bigger than just your own needs and give generously to others.

The Full Moon in Taurus enlivens our sense of responsibility to caretake our planet and its inhabitants. Reconsider the importance of your needs and desires in light of how they impact the environment. Maybe this year, you'll take those fallen leaves and start a compost pile instead of putting them in plastic bags and sending them to your local dump. How about setting up a bird feeder for the winter? How about taking ten dollars of your income every month and sending it to your favorite environmental organization? It is our job to protect Mother Earth and her inhabitants.

We are talking total embodiment of love, here on earth, with your partner, your kids, your neighbors and their kids, your parents, your friends and their friends, your enemies, your community, your schools, your coworkers, your customers, your government, our government's friends and supposed enemies, every person in every nation, every tree, plant, animal, body of water, rock, mountain, bird, planet, star, solar system, galaxy, every one of the multiple universes, and everything that could possibly exist in all possible existences. Wrap your mind around that, let go, and open into partnership with all our relations!

This is not the usual Taurus Full Moon celebration of sitting in a hot bath, making a great meal and relaxing all night. Use the day and get radical! Go to a school and volunteer to help, stop in at a homeless shelter and cook for the hungry, go into the factories and talk to the working poor, go to a hospital and sit with the sick, go to a hospice and comfort the dying, visit a military family that has a loved one serving indefinitely in Iraq, and then tell me that your life is hard. Don't wait for things to get so bad that we have nothing left. Change now, get involved, do something that serves someone other than you, and I guarantee your heart will open and surrender into the love that will heal every dark place in your psyche, your body, your heart, and by extension all the dark places within the global psyche, body and heart. We can all rise to this occasion, while remaining embodied and connected to all other life.

©2005 Lisa Dale Miller

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 2 replies

About Prayer Shawl Ministry

Mon, 07 Nov 2005 18:39:59 GMT

In 1998, Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo, two graduates of the 1997 Women's Leadership Institute at The Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut gave birth to a ministry as a result of their experience in this program of applied Feminist Spirituality under the direction of

Professor Miriam Therese Winter, MMS. Care and the love of knitting have been combined into a prayerful ministry that reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace. Many blessings are *knitted into every shawl. Whether they are called: "Prayer Shawls", "Comfort Shawls", "Peace Shawls" or "Mantles" just to name a few; the knitter begins each shawl with prayers and blessings for the recipient. Intentions are continued throughout the creation of the shawl. When the shawl is completed it is offered a final ritual before being sent along its way. Some recipients have continued the kindness by making one themselves and passing it onto someone in need. Thus, the blessing is rippled from person to person, with both the giver and receiver feeling the unconditional embrace of a sheltering, mothering God!
(*The shawls can also be crocheted, quilted, woven or machine knitted as well!)
>>>>
"Shawls ... made for centuries universal and embracing, symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving, God. They wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace, mother, hug, shelter and beautify.
Those who have received these shawls have been uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to fly above their troubles…”
Written in 1998 by: Janet Bristow © 2005
>>>>>>>>>>>
Prayer Shawl Ministry Home Page
www.shawlministry.com/index.htm

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 14 replies

Altar Cloth Inspired by the Goddess

SoulOfBeckon — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 20:13:47 GMT

Hey Everyone,
I uploaded a pic of the Altar Cloth I recently made for a good friend of mine for his birthday. It was inspired by the Goddess.
Namaste, Tawny

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 3 replies

Going out on a limb

ravendragonsbard — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 06:31:46 GMT

Since I'm most definitely NOT an artist. But I recently found myself in a "zone" of creativity and the picture I just put in our tribe photo album is the result.

Tigress mentioned perhaps discussing if any of us do "crafty" things with Goddess energy and I can definitely say that while I normally am more into fabric arts (particularly cross stitching and embroidery) the night I sculpted this piece I felt She was actually doing the work - I was almost an observer of what was taking shape. The finished piece fairly vibrates with Her energy and I think that I found a missing piece that night of my own connection to Her.

Peace,
Raven

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 2 replies

What Really Happened? or Pagan Common Knowledge

ravendragonsbard — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 06:12:57 GMT

Tom's question in the other thread got me thinking - how much of what we accept as "common knowledge" in the pagan community - regardless of personal path - is based essentially on "revisionist history."

I've been wrestling with how I feel about revisionist history in this regard for the past couple of days and I'm frankly torn. On the one hand I want fact not fiction. I want things to be presented accurately and without distortion or sensationalizing things.

On the other hand I also feel that history is essentially the creation of the winners - it truly is based on perspective in many cases. There are always two sides (or more) to any event. One reason eye witness accounts are so difficult to really use as testimony at times. Everyone "sees" something different happen.

At times I'm inclined to wonder if even historical events can't have metaphorical meaning which would skew perhaps the meaning of "truth." When some folks say, "Never again the Burning Times" does it really mean they believe that the equivalent of modern pagans were persecuted or could it have a wider meaning in that we don't wish to see ANYone persecuted again for any reason.

I'm still turning a lot of this over in my head so feel free to take it away folks.

Peace,
Raven

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 14 replies

Goddess love/Goddess worship

Zachar — Sat, 22 Oct 2005 07:19:57 GMT

I have rescently come out of the practice of worshipping all that is Goddess. More now into worshipping the duality of the prime creator, as I see it of course, being both masculine God and feminine Goddess. Each, I feel, are required to create even though creation seems predominantly a Goddess trait.

Still I am enamoured by all things Goddess, and very much in love with the Goddess I see in the females in my life. So I feel that "Goddess worshiper" is no longer a fitting title. I am a Goddess Lover. This gives me a much more empowered feeling, as a man of nature. Balanced as the tao, heaven and earth, sun and the moon, and the deities which bless our every moment.

I would love to hear anything you all would like to share with me. All of you are such a blessing for me to know and be able to share with. I thank you all.

Namaste,
~Z

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 6 replies

Samhain thoughts

ravendragonsbard — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 01:43:25 GMT

I've written a couple of things over the years that seem to capture this time of year.... In reading the one poem I realize it really is timeless... so enjoy...

SAMHAIN

Veil is thinning
Ravens call
Nights are chilling
Frost will fall

Darkest night
And shortest day
‘Round the corner
Buzzards prey

Bones will crack
Flesh made hollow
Sharp the path
My feet to follow

Deadening leaves
Winter’s grasp
Feint of heart
Dare not ask

But witches walk
And witches talk
Embrace the Night
‘Round about the Fire’s Light

Veil is thin
Raven cries
Shed outgrown skin
The Old Year dies

Tracy Linder October 12, 2004

This next... not really "Samhain" but the image of the cauldron is one of combining many elements into a tasty whole... I wrote this just after I got my beautiful cast iron cauldron.

THE CAULDRON
I am.... a cauldron cuddler. Yes, I cuddle my new cauldron. I embrace it in my hands and stare into its newly inky yet to be filled depths and am in love. I wrap my arms around it, holding it close to my body between solar plexus and belly and feel the most complete I have in a long time. Where my athame always speaks to what is bright and sharp and honed in my soul (or in need of a few turns of the sharpening stone), my cauldron calls deeper...reminding me of parts that I felt I must give up...disown in order to remain somewhat sane. It speaks to me of motherhood, cuddling small bodies close to me, hearing their laughter as they play - all my small dears, the ones I've prevented because I didn't have time, or money, choosing what some may see as selfishness in order to prevent a worse crime - untimely birth...and here, cauldron cuddled close, I touch what could have been, and feel content - no longer divorced from that part of me, but again at peace - a little sad every once in awhile - but still at peace. And I smile, and giggle and feel oh so much more solid and _here_ than ever before. I touch ME again - a me I had thought I had lost in the midst of bewildering new information...but I'm still here, still me, never lost - just a few new shoots that bring the core of me into a different expression, transforming not into something new, but more real. I cuddle my cauldron and listen. I listen to the wind walk, the trees sing, the fair folk giggle, and the moon laugh. I am a cauldron cuddler, a witch, and damn proud of it.

I invite everyone else to share what they are thinking here. I probably won't be on Tribe tomorrow... as soon as I'm off of here I'm focusing on Samhain (and trying to somehow "work" tomorrow to LOL).

Peace,
Raven

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 14 replies

Equinox and other issues about this wonderful tribe.....

tattooshaman — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 06:44:41 GMT

Wow. Ladies, gents, others, we've made some magical things happen here. Let's not let this drop by the wayside due to lack of interest/involvement. We're narrowly focused, but total silence is a bit TOO narrow for my tastes. ;-)

Did the Equinox and Mabon just go past without any comment except Raven and Justin? Yup. We must all be having an amazing beginning of fall/end of summer. I hope it was just that so many of us are sooooo busy with 'winding down' the end of Summer.

This brings a couple of questions to mind here-

Is there actually still an active core to this tribe, or is it that we're just all too damned busy (I've got a brand new semester I'm dealing with at Humboldt State)?

Does anyone here think I should return the tribe to "moderated membership" rather than the "private" status it has held since we moved here from that 'other' space?

Should I actively stimulate conversation here? This and other tribes have tried that, but it has led to some seriously one-sided dialogue.... well, monologues, actually.

Please let me/us know.

Love and respect,

Your moderator- Tom

posted in In Love With the Goddess - 25 replies