The words of Rev. Sean Parker Dennison, Rev. Meg Riley, and especially Rev. Ian White Maher, shared during the Berry Street Essay and Responses at GA in Portland, OR will remain with us for a long time to come, hopefully forever.
Video:
https://uuma.site-ym.com/?BSE2015Video
Essay:
https://uuma.site-ym.com/mpage/BSE2015
Responses:
https://uuma.site-ym.com/mpage/BSEResponse2015
Source:
Sunday night I gathered with a large group of women in Concord, MA. It was a reunion for a group that had been in existence for 25 years. While based in the nearby Unitarian church, most of the women do not identify as UU, yet find enlightenment in paths provided by UU Women and Religion authors, teachers and curriculum such as Cakes for the Queen of Heaven and Liz Fisher’s Rise Up and Call Her Name. (The latter, a courses that Bozena and Twinkle have taught…Liz being a friend of Twinkle’s) What a delight to gather with these women from all walks of life, whom at one time or the present have been part of Concord’s Women’s Goddess Covenant Circle! Several had either moved away or gone a separate path early on, and me, having joined a mere six years ago, had not met many of such “elders” til Sunday night. Likewise new members joined since I left for my sabbatical a year ago. Strangers in life. Yet we shared many of the same favorite memories this group offered each of us. Ritual, ceremonies, seasons, and circles. Creating clay Goddesses, wands, sacred cloths and altars. Dancing. Poetry. Chanting. While the entire group had never gathered as one, one we were indeed as we stepped into the ancient rhythms of this covenant.
Margaret Stewart, the “Mother” and “Weaver” of the circle had gathered several readings, one the Mother handed to me to read. Surprised I was to discover it was a poem (“Autumn Moon”) I had written in 2011 for a New Moon Circle I had led. What an honor to know that housed in the Circle’s Treasure Chest is my work and gifts to be passed on to future generations. In gratitude and grace I share this poem with you now.
Autumn Moon
Even as the wheel turns
from this season
to the next
She remains steadfast
in her wisdom
Vibrant colors in the trees
Our storehouse brimming
with Summer’s harvest
Gathered round our Circle
Fire warming our
hearths & hearts
Welcoming the darkness
of the new moon
As it allows the truth
of our Soul’s desire
to shine from within
We offer up our
fears & sadness
to be taken by
the Autumn wind
Our intentions clear
& for the highest good
We beseech her support
& guidance
As we enter this time of inner
reflection & solitude
We accept the Divine
fulfillment of our desires
Embracing Life Fully
Thank you Goddess
Maiden, Mother, Crone
Thank you Circle
of my own
Autumn Moon we thank you too
For the comfort of your season.
October 21st – Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
November 18th – Brida by Paulo Coelho
December 16th – Starpeople: The Sirian Redemption by Linda Tuck Jenkins
January 20th – The Twelfth Wife by Indu Sundaresan
February 17th – The Age of Miracles by Marianne Williamson
We celebrated another beautiful New Moon ritual at Twinkle’s Place last night. Combined with the partial Solar Eclipse, the new moon in Virgo gave us opportunity to align our inner and outer understandings about how we are both able to be strong individuals as well as valuable inter-connected partners with those closest to us in family and community. From major shifts in healing (physical, emotional & karmic), beginning (enriching, nourishing endeavors) and completing patterns (habits that may have us negatively locked), including most especially our relationships, this New Moon truly signified an opportunity to mindfully evolve toward our highest good, and the good of all in our lives.
For more detailed information, we defer to the Mystic Mamma and her cadre of experts:
http://www.mysticmamma.com/solar-eclipse-new-moon-in-virgo-september-12-13-2015/
And for practical application of all things human, I encourage you to read this brief note from Seth:
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2015/09/shouting-into-the-wind.html
For information about where we draw our UU faith from:
Join Twinkle’s Place practitioners at the Mind, Body, Spirit Festival in Fairfield, Maine on Saturday, September 12th, 2015
For more information, visit:
http://www.mindbodyspiritfestival.org/festival-dates-locations/
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 12th:
Visit our Facebook Page to see pictures of the Festival!!
Circle this date on your calendar. ((September 16th)) I would love to have you join me for a discussion about Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s legendary book: “Gift from the Sea.” My grandmother knew this woman. And I have read this book several times over the years. Each time it is as relevant as the last.
✨Twinkle✨ https://twinklesplace.org/book-discussion-titles-selected/
Usually I leave my “blogging” on my blog, but thought to share it here too.
This month I led a service at the UU Church in Pittsfield accompanied by an astonishing musician: Jason Curran. Not only is his music amazing, but the selections he chooses to compliment a service seem magical. If you ever see a listing for a performance of his, gift yourself by attending.
Gratitude:
A Very Special Thank You to Jason Curran for his beautiful music and co-creative spirit. Felt like spiritual alchemy in ways I simply cannot explain and will not try at this time. Other than to say, he brought tears to my eyes with his rendition of “Beautiful Dreamer” – he could not have known how special that song is to me, and more so now.
Join us at Twinkle’s Place on the third Wednesday of each month
9:00am-11:00am.
August 19th – Turtle Moon by Alice Hoffman
What can you trust to be there for you when you most need it?
What would hold you like the sea in this poem?
What would you say ” Yes” to without reserve?
That, yes that, is what you are meant to give your attention to.
First Lesson
by Philip Booth
Lie back daughter, let your head
be tipped back in the cup of my hand.
Gently, and I will hold you. Spread
your arms wide, lie out on the stream
and look high at the gulls. A dead-
man’s float is face down. You will dive
and swim soon enough where this tidewater
ebbs to the sea. Daughter, believe
me, when you tire on the long thrash
to your island, lie up, and survive.
As you float now, where I held you
and let go, remember when fear
cramps your heart what I told you:
lie gently and wide to the light-year
stars, lie back, and the sea will hold you.
The New Moon in Leo is an expansive time. Here at Twinkle’s Place our home feels open in ways it has not in many many months. Perhaps because we have one less resident temporarily at this time and the energy is moving with more ease. Perhaps too because new and better things are on the horizon.
Mystic Mamma contributors tell us it is a time of sparkling creativity!
And to that we can certainly claim true, for this summer itself has been filled with such creativity and the closer we come to the new moon, the more powerful and vibrant the feeling is. Transitional times are upon us all.
Gather with us on August 14th to welcome the New Moon phases of creativity in its fullest manifestation. With the clear energy of our home, allow yourself to embrace your divinity and call in your deepest desires.
