…… (Luna) stepped onto the center mark of the stage, picked up the scales and waited in the darkness as a hush fell over the theater. Luna heard the familiar first notes of the prelude coming from the pit played masterfully by the Planetary Orchestra, and carried on the otherworldly sounds, she slid easily into her role as the beauty of the harmonies flowed through her. The curtain opened and the stage was pitch black, save for the starlit diamonds on Luna’s gown……
This month's Full Moon brings us a lunar eclipse as well, and arrives hot on the heels of the Spring Equinox. Known variously as the Worm Moon, the Sap Moon, or the Crow Moon, March's Full Moon calls us to seek out the areas of balance and imbalance in our lives. It is very much in harmony with the overall energies of the Spring Equinox -- the time when we begin to turn from the inner work of the Winter to the outer work of Spring and Summer, when we move from contemplation to action. This Full Moon propels us to action, but gently so -- inviting us to examine the areas where we are still in need of nurturance and healing, where we have gotten out of balance and harmony with ourselves and our world.
Oh moon, you don’t play fair. Rising later and later each night like this, and each night more unbelievably full of light. Later and later I wait for you, studying the undersides of leaves, holding my breath, testing the strength of my will. When in the dew and the depth of midnight your other lovers float out from behind trees and between shadows, I invite them to lounge at my side in the wet grass and wait for you. We wait for you together, breathing mist, sipping the dark with our open eyes.
Today's Watery Wednesday focuses on community news for Pagans, Heathens, polytheists, pantheists and all our allies! North Carolina Pagans in the spotlight; Pagan interfaith progress; a new book on devotional polytheism; real vs "fake" names on Facebook.
It's October, the season when mainstream culture focuses on Paganism. This week, the Tarheel state seems to be in the focus. Kelley Harrell describes contemporary Witchcraft in this piece at a Raleigh website. The Asheville Citizen-Times highlights an unique program that includes Witches (like H Byron Ballard) in a program that shares various religions in a once-a-year program to local high school students.
The past few weeks have found me focused on a personal project of connecting to the lunar energies. As a practicing witch I have worked with the lunar energies regularly for many years. I have worked ritual, written poetry and offered up praise to Her in all of her phases. So, it would seem that my connection is very deep already. The beauty of this Path, however, is that there is always something more that can be learned. Something new that can be experienced and a deeper level of knowing that can be brought into your work.
I have been on a mission to fully experience the energies of the Moon in all of her cycles and through the lunation of travel through the Zodiacal Wheel. Having a good working knowledge of astrology and planetary magick helps this journey, but the intent of connection to the phases of cycle is not dependent on it. I am also an Air sun sign, so analysis comes more readily than the emotional and feeling nature. This is precisely why I felt this work would be very productive.
Erin Lale
Fellow faculty at Harvard Divinity School posted an open letter to Wolpe in response to his article. It's available on this page, below the call for p...
Erin Lale
Here's another response. The Wild Hunt has a roundup of numerous responses on its site, but it carried this one as a separate article. It is an accoun...
Erin Lale
Here's another response. This one is by a scholar of paganism. It's unfortunately a Facebook post so this link goes to Facebook. She posted the text o...
Erin Lale
Here's another link to a pagan response to the Atlantic article. I would have included this one in my story too if I had seen it before I published it...
Janet Boyer
I love the idea of green burials! I first heard of Recompose right before it launched. I wish there were more here on the East Coast; that's how I'd l...