Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

We are very blessed to be able this year to go to a real pumpkin patch and pick our gorgeous squash right off the vine! Such an enriching experience it is to be able to participate in the fullnes of food. As the sun shone down on us with it's weakened rays we delighted in the colors of the season, plucking hearty squash, just as our ancestors have done, to sustain us through the winter time.







Nykki pulled Ronan in the wagon







We stopped to say hello to the Bee Goddess, working hard to gather pollen, continue our way of life and provide us with sweet treats, thank you Mama Bee!







A glimps of unspoiled earth, invaluable







Best friends choose a pumpkin. These are the memories I hope to instill in my child. When Nykki looks back on his childhood, I want moments like this to be his foundation.







The star of the show!

Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

We are very blessed to be able this year to go to a real pumpkin patch and pick our gorgeous squash right off the vine! Such an enriching experience it is to be able to participate in the fullnes of food. As the sun shone down on us with it's weakened rays we delighted in the colors of the season, plucking hearty squash, just as our ancestors have done, to sustain us through the winter time.







Nykki pulled Ronan in the wagon







We stopped to say hello to the Bee Goddess, working hard to gather pollen, continue our way of life and provide us with sweet treats, thank you Mama Bee!







A glimps of unspoiled earth, invaluable







Best friends choose a pumpkin. These are the memories I hope to instill in my child. When Nykki looks back on his childhood, I want moments like this to be his foundation.







The star of the show!

Spiral Belly Button

Have I introduced you to Ronan's spiral belly button?



There's a little Goddess in all of us :)

Spiral Belly Button

Have I introduced you to Ronan's spiral belly button?



There's a little Goddess in all of us :)

Guest Post: Four Faces of the Goddess

Guest Post by Seren




In my path I honour four faces of the Goddess, rather than the commonly-known three. I struggled for a long time with three faces (known as Maiden, Mother and Crone) since I felt that was lacking in the explanation of a woman's life. I mean no offense but it seemed like there was some guy out there thinking "Okay, what do women do? I guess they just get born, grow up, pop out babies like gumballs, get old and die." So I really researched on this and then one day I was on an astrology site geared toward women. It said to take the four phases of the moon and live it. I don't remember the exact words or even the website name but in the descriptions it mentioned how in some cultures three phases were honoured and in some, four were. I did some Googling and learned that some Pagans honoured the goddess in four faces, and there were quite a few different formulas:

~Child, Maiden, Mother, Crone
~Maiden, Temptress, Mother, Crone
~Maiden, Mother, Matriarch, Crone
~Child, Initiate, Queen, Wisewoman
~Maiden, Warrior, Mother, Crone

The last one is what called to me. I picture the Maiden as being young, learning, playful; the Warrior, as she grows sees injustice, experiments in life and discovers sexuality; the Mother is seen as she settles into home and hearth, raising her children and fiercely protecting them; and then the Crone, as she is filled with untold wisdom and is loving, yet firm.

(A note: As with all Faces of Divine, I see the Mother as a symbol. I know not all women decide to take the path to having children and so for them, the Mother aspect can be more like nurturing a career, a lifestyle, even self.)

Some people put the Warrior after the Mother but to me that would imply abandonment of family as she pursues other things. I like the Maiden at Imbolc & Ostara; the Warrior at Beltane and Litha; the Mother at Lammas and Mabon; and the Crone at Samhain and Yule. They seem to fit there in a logical sense...Maiden in early fresh spring and the beginnings of fertility; the Warrior in the excitement of sexuality, summer storms, and battling iniquities; the Mother present for providing during both harvests; the Crone present to guide us into the new year and teach us survival during the winter.

All in all, it works for me. Four goddesses representing the four faces have called to me: Xochiquetzal, Inanna, Arianrhod and Frau Holle; and two gods, representing the Light and Dark halves of the year: Tyr and Arddu.

Guest Post: Four Faces of the Goddess

Guest Post by Seren




In my path I honour four faces of the Goddess, rather than the commonly-known three. I struggled for a long time with three faces (known as Maiden, Mother and Crone) since I felt that was lacking in the explanation of a woman's life. I mean no offense but it seemed like there was some guy out there thinking "Okay, what do women do? I guess they just get born, grow up, pop out babies like gumballs, get old and die." So I really researched on this and then one day I was on an astrology site geared toward women. It said to take the four phases of the moon and live it. I don't remember the exact words or even the website name but in the descriptions it mentioned how in some cultures three phases were honoured and in some, four were. I did some Googling and learned that some Pagans honoured the goddess in four faces, and there were quite a few different formulas:

~Child, Maiden, Mother, Crone
~Maiden, Temptress, Mother, Crone
~Maiden, Mother, Matriarch, Crone
~Child, Initiate, Queen, Wisewoman
~Maiden, Warrior, Mother, Crone

The last one is what called to me. I picture the Maiden as being young, learning, playful; the Warrior, as she grows sees injustice, experiments in life and discovers sexuality; the Mother is seen as she settles into home and hearth, raising her children and fiercely protecting them; and then the Crone, as she is filled with untold wisdom and is loving, yet firm.

(A note: As with all Faces of Divine, I see the Mother as a symbol. I know not all women decide to take the path to having children and so for them, the Mother aspect can be more like nurturing a career, a lifestyle, even self.)

Some people put the Warrior after the Mother but to me that would imply abandonment of family as she pursues other things. I like the Maiden at Imbolc & Ostara; the Warrior at Beltane and Litha; the Mother at Lammas and Mabon; and the Crone at Samhain and Yule. They seem to fit there in a logical sense...Maiden in early fresh spring and the beginnings of fertility; the Warrior in the excitement of sexuality, summer storms, and battling iniquities; the Mother present for providing during both harvests; the Crone present to guide us into the new year and teach us survival during the winter.

All in all, it works for me. Four goddesses representing the four faces have called to me: Xochiquetzal, Inanna, Arianrhod and Frau Holle; and two gods, representing the Light and Dark halves of the year: Tyr and Arddu.

A Woman Clothed with the Sun

Rev 12:1
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:



12:4 and 5

and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne.




Rev 12:6
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days.


Rev 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Rev 12:13
And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man [child].

Rev 12:14
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

Rev 12:15
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.



Rev 12:16
And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

Rev 12:17
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.


The Goddess lives and she is in the Bible! Did ya know? Now you do :)

I especially am personally drawn to the last line about the seed of the woman (Goddess) and how they kept the commandments of God and have a testimony of Jesus Christ. To me it's a reveltation on Christo-paganism and I for one am happy to have a spiritual life full of God, Goddess, the Earth, Jesus and all the magick therein!

A Woman Clothed with the Sun

Rev 12:1
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:



12:4 and 5

and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne.




Rev 12:6
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days.


Rev 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Rev 12:13
And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man [child].

Rev 12:14
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

Rev 12:15
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.



Rev 12:16
And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

Rev 12:17
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.


The Goddess lives and she is in the Bible! Did ya know? Now you do :)

I especially am personally drawn to the last line about the seed of the woman (Goddess) and how they kept the commandments of God and have a testimony of Jesus Christ. To me it's a reveltation on Christo-paganism and I for one am happy to have a spiritual life full of God, Goddess, the Earth, Jesus and all the magick therein!

FCE Full Moon

FCE – Full Moon



Opening Prayer and Ritual

Said by mom, calling the quarters, drawing a ritual circle

Song

The World is So Big

http://www.lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer /index.html?searchlanguage=1&searchcollection= 1&searchseqstart=292&searchsubseqstart=%20 &searchseqend=292&searchsubseqend=ZZZ

Scripture


Scriptures #1

Helaman 14
1. [20] But behold, as I said unto you concerning another sign, a sign of his death, behold, in that day that he shall suffer death the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his light unto you; and also the moon and the stars; and there shall be no light upon the face of this land, even from the time that he shall suffer death, for the space of three days, to the time that he shall rise again from the dead.

3 Nephi 8
1. [22] And there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, for so great were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the land.

Scripture #2

The Moon is the celestial Mother
I am daughter of the Moon
Devoted to Artemis.
My blood is Amazon
My life is Amazon.
Servant to my Nation
and to my Sisters.
I am daughter of the Moon.
jasacco


Video Clip

Full Moon Music Video

http://youtube.com/watch?v=E8qMDTI_Tz0

Lesson Summary

The moon is very important to the earth and the people. We can all feel the energy of the moon as it grows large, shrinks down, disappears and then grows large again. It’s rhythym pulls the tides and speaks to our bodies.

Tonight, during the full moon we ask for blessings of abundance the moon can bring us. We see the moon as representative of the Goddess, specifically Artemis, one of the faces of our Heavenly Mother. Ancient people saw the moon as a shinning, divine breast, or golden apple of honey, milk and abundance in the sky. They named the moons, they called to the moons, they prayed to the moons just as we may do now.

We also see the moon as representative of Christ’s light. As we learned in our scripture lesson the moon refused to shine when Christ died and only returned to us upon his resurrection. Tonight we celebrate the fullness of the moon, the shinning light of the Goddess and Christ.

Points to Ponder

What does the full moon look like to you?

What are some abundant things we are thankful to the Moon Goddess for?

How does the full moon make us feel?

If you could name the moon tonight, what would you name it?

(Hint: What’s going on in the nature around you? What is the moon shining on? I think we may call ours the planters moon or the warm moon)


Story

The Moon’s Journey, p 49, Circle Round by Starhawk

Treat

Black bean soup with “full moon” sour cream on top

Activity

Full Moon House Blessing found on p. 59 of Circle Round by Starhawk

Artemis coloring page from Dover Coloring Book Greek Gods and Goddesses

FCE Full Moon

FCE – Full Moon



Opening Prayer and Ritual

Said by mom, calling the quarters, drawing a ritual circle

Song

The World is So Big

http://www.lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer /index.html?searchlanguage=1&searchcollection= 1&searchseqstart=292&searchsubseqstart=%20 &searchseqend=292&searchsubseqend=ZZZ

Scripture


Scriptures #1

Helaman 14
1. [20] But behold, as I said unto you concerning another sign, a sign of his death, behold, in that day that he shall suffer death the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his light unto you; and also the moon and the stars; and there shall be no light upon the face of this land, even from the time that he shall suffer death, for the space of three days, to the time that he shall rise again from the dead.

3 Nephi 8
1. [22] And there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, for so great were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the land.

Scripture #2

The Moon is the celestial Mother
I am daughter of the Moon
Devoted to Artemis.
My blood is Amazon
My life is Amazon.
Servant to my Nation
and to my Sisters.
I am daughter of the Moon.
jasacco


Video Clip

Full Moon Music Video

http://youtube.com/watch?v=E8qMDTI_Tz0

Lesson Summary

The moon is very important to the earth and the people. We can all feel the energy of the moon as it grows large, shrinks down, disappears and then grows large again. It’s rhythym pulls the tides and speaks to our bodies.

Tonight, during the full moon we ask for blessings of abundance the moon can bring us. We see the moon as representative of the Goddess, specifically Artemis, one of the faces of our Heavenly Mother. Ancient people saw the moon as a shinning, divine breast, or golden apple of honey, milk and abundance in the sky. They named the moons, they called to the moons, they prayed to the moons just as we may do now.

We also see the moon as representative of Christ’s light. As we learned in our scripture lesson the moon refused to shine when Christ died and only returned to us upon his resurrection. Tonight we celebrate the fullness of the moon, the shinning light of the Goddess and Christ.

Points to Ponder

What does the full moon look like to you?

What are some abundant things we are thankful to the Moon Goddess for?

How does the full moon make us feel?

If you could name the moon tonight, what would you name it?

(Hint: What’s going on in the nature around you? What is the moon shining on? I think we may call ours the planters moon or the warm moon)


Story

The Moon’s Journey, p 49, Circle Round by Starhawk

Treat

Black bean soup with “full moon” sour cream on top

Activity

Full Moon House Blessing found on p. 59 of Circle Round by Starhawk

Artemis coloring page from Dover Coloring Book Greek Gods and Goddesses

I submitted my first Sunstonee Abstract! (Biting Fingernails)

Abstract for submission to the Sunstone Symposium Salt Lake City 2008

Submitted by: Ayla Serenemoon
M.A. Women's Spirituality, New College of California, San Francisco


Heavenly Mothers, a Look at Magick, the Divine Feminine and Homebirth in the Mormon Community of North America

Mormons are a distinct community which kept homebirth alive throughout the 20th century while nearly all other American women were coerced into birthing in hospitals. I wish to heuristically explore an interesting commonality within this culture - home birth and celestial feminine/magickal practices. I do not seek to “prove” that because this culture has a history of the Divine Feminine and magic that they always birth at home - but rather to show the synchronicities between the spiritual heritage of Mormonism (which can be seen in history as well as their current practices) and their tendency to birth at home.

Using intuitive inquiry, reflective listening, I will present research on my topic of inquiry alongside my inner reflection on the matter. Using methods in addition to research, I hope to draw the reader into an interactive experience, integral inquiry, with the paper by using prompts for reflection, indwelling, narrative considerations to create meaning in the human life cycle, as well as artful expression.

This paper (presentation) is an excerpt from my thesis presented for completion of my Master's degree in Women's Spirituality earned in the fall of 2007 from New College of California, San Francisco.


Author Bio: Ayla Serenemoon, M.A., is a Mormon convert, a scholar and columnist writing for SageWoman magazine. She is married and is the homeschooling, stay-at-home mom of two small boys. She makes her happy home in Northern California.

I submitted my first Sunstonee Abstract! (Biting Fingernails)

Abstract for submission to the Sunstone Symposium Salt Lake City 2008

Submitted by: Ayla Serenemoon
M.A. Women's Spirituality, New College of California, San Francisco


Heavenly Mothers, a Look at Magick, the Divine Feminine and Homebirth in the Mormon Community of North America

Mormons are a distinct community which kept homebirth alive throughout the 20th century while nearly all other American women were coerced into birthing in hospitals. I wish to heuristically explore an interesting commonality within this culture - home birth and celestial feminine/magickal practices. I do not seek to “prove” that because this culture has a history of the Divine Feminine and magic that they always birth at home - but rather to show the synchronicities between the spiritual heritage of Mormonism (which can be seen in history as well as their current practices) and their tendency to birth at home.

Using intuitive inquiry, reflective listening, I will present research on my topic of inquiry alongside my inner reflection on the matter. Using methods in addition to research, I hope to draw the reader into an interactive experience, integral inquiry, with the paper by using prompts for reflection, indwelling, narrative considerations to create meaning in the human life cycle, as well as artful expression.

This paper (presentation) is an excerpt from my thesis presented for completion of my Master's degree in Women's Spirituality earned in the fall of 2007 from New College of California, San Francisco.


Author Bio: Ayla Serenemoon, M.A., is a Mormon convert, a scholar and columnist writing for SageWoman magazine. She is married and is the homeschooling, stay-at-home mom of two small boys. She makes her happy home in Northern California.

Quilting and the Bee Goddess

I was inspired by recent posts from Lizz and Qalballah about quilting. I have loved quilts from as far back as I can remember. Something about them speaks to my soul. I love them so much I included them in my thesis so I thought I would share that part of my thesis with you now (bibliography available upon request).

Here it is....

Everyday Magick in an Amish Life

For the Amish, home is a sanctuary, it is God’s home (Bender 76). Amish families typically have 8 – 10 children (Bender 104) and from the beginning of their religion to be Amish has meant to reinvent the world together, in the everyday, as a family (Stoltzfus 78). In an Amish home one gets a feeling of Zen, according to Sue Bender. There is a natural self-forgetfulness in the Amish that lends to this feeling (Bender 77). Sue remarks that even something simple like washing dishes, is for them a sacred ritual that they all understand and follow (Bender 44).

Amish women have a spiritual connection with their tasks especially with that of sewing (Stoltzfus 78) and nothing brings Amish sewing to mind quite like the image of their famous Amish quilts. One of the most common quilting patterns the Amish use is called the sunshine and shadow pattern (Bender 146).



To me this pattern is almost psychedelic in appearance and reminds me of something I might see at an outdoor music festival in Northern California. The use of dark and light brings to mind for me the ancient understanding of night and day, winter and summer, yin and yang, male and female – the natural harmony of life and nature. Amish women get together and quilt in quilting bees. This is a celebrated social occasion complete with special treats to eat and gossiping to be heard. Some quilting bees last several days and may be comprised of over a hundred women with nearly as many, if not more, children (110)!

I was very interested when I was doing my research with the phrase “Quilting Bee”. Where had it come from? So I looked it up. According to the Pittsburg Post Gazette the word “bee” used with “quilting”, “sewing” or “spelling” as uncertain origins. In England “been” or “bean” means to be given help by neighbors toward a particular task. The word “bee” was first recorded as being used in a “Spinning Bee” in 1769 and was used thereafter for “husking bees”, “apple bees” and “logging bees (Pittsburg Post Gazette).”

I have my own idea. In German the word for Bee is Biene. Bee Goddesses can be traced to the Minoan (Sicily) culture. The Bee Goddess represented community activity, diligence and work (Ransome). It seems an interesting synchronicity that the Bee Goddess would preside over community diligence and embody a spirit of work and community events that would come to be called “bees”.

Quilting and the Bee Goddess

I was inspired by recent posts from Lizz and Qalballah about quilting. I have loved quilts from as far back as I can remember. Something about them speaks to my soul. I love them so much I included them in my thesis so I thought I would share that part of my thesis with you now (bibliography available upon request).

Here it is....

Everyday Magick in an Amish Life

For the Amish, home is a sanctuary, it is God’s home (Bender 76). Amish families typically have 8 – 10 children (Bender 104) and from the beginning of their religion to be Amish has meant to reinvent the world together, in the everyday, as a family (Stoltzfus 78). In an Amish home one gets a feeling of Zen, according to Sue Bender. There is a natural self-forgetfulness in the Amish that lends to this feeling (Bender 77). Sue remarks that even something simple like washing dishes, is for them a sacred ritual that they all understand and follow (Bender 44).

Amish women have a spiritual connection with their tasks especially with that of sewing (Stoltzfus 78) and nothing brings Amish sewing to mind quite like the image of their famous Amish quilts. One of the most common quilting patterns the Amish use is called the sunshine and shadow pattern (Bender 146).



To me this pattern is almost psychedelic in appearance and reminds me of something I might see at an outdoor music festival in Northern California. The use of dark and light brings to mind for me the ancient understanding of night and day, winter and summer, yin and yang, male and female – the natural harmony of life and nature. Amish women get together and quilt in quilting bees. This is a celebrated social occasion complete with special treats to eat and gossiping to be heard. Some quilting bees last several days and may be comprised of over a hundred women with nearly as many, if not more, children (110)!

I was very interested when I was doing my research with the phrase “Quilting Bee”. Where had it come from? So I looked it up. According to the Pittsburg Post Gazette the word “bee” used with “quilting”, “sewing” or “spelling” as uncertain origins. In England “been” or “bean” means to be given help by neighbors toward a particular task. The word “bee” was first recorded as being used in a “Spinning Bee” in 1769 and was used thereafter for “husking bees”, “apple bees” and “logging bees (Pittsburg Post Gazette).”

I have my own idea. In German the word for Bee is Biene. Bee Goddesses can be traced to the Minoan (Sicily) culture. The Bee Goddess represented community activity, diligence and work (Ransome). It seems an interesting synchronicity that the Bee Goddess would preside over community diligence and embody a spirit of work and community events that would come to be called “bees”.

The Elect Lady

I feel called to write about Emma today.

Oh, sweet and powerful Emma, I adore and love you, my prophtess, the Elect Lady.

Emma is described to us by the revelation of Spirit in D & C 25. This revelation was given to Joseph Smith, Jr in Emma's hometown of Harmony, PA which in and of itself is a huge revalation.

Let's have a glance at the spiritual nature of Pennsylvania, the pot from which the flower that is Emma grew. The following except is from my Master's degree thesis, Heavenly Mothers and Plain Goddesses.

"[Many authors and scholars] trace the current practice of Pow Wow faith healing to the magick and herbal tradition brought by the German communities [to Pennsylvania], fused with mystical Christianity and Native American practices of the region (Guiley and Valiente). Ravenwolf, Valiente, Guiley, pagan practitioners and writers, are backed up by scholars like Barbara Louise Reimensnyder of the University of Pennsylvania, who have found elements of German paganism in what RavenWolf calls the “Avalon of the Americas”, Pennsylvania. The cloak for paganism became the reality after several generations and Pow Wow artists often pray to Jesus and Mary instead of a God and Goddess.

I like to draw from a few sources when I’m making this point which is why I brought up Ravenwolf, Valiente, Guiley and Reimensnyder. I think it’s important to keep in mind that practicing witches in the area, like Ravenwolf, can discover things and make connections that a scholar might not be able to find while scholars like, Reimensyder from the University of Pennsylvania, can bring in academic oversight to the conversation of magick.

Many German descendants practicing PowWow are female, in keeping with the German female healing tradition. Pow Wow artists have many magickal aspects to their practice including the use of a magickal knife called an athome for divination, amulets, casting of lots, pagan symbols in rosettes of their churches, traditional Hex colors or red, white and black and they use astrology to determine gardening schedules, as we will discuss in depth later in the paper (Ravenwolf, Guiley, Valiente and Reimensnyder)."

We know that Joseph used astorology, amulets, seer stones and a magickal daggers in early Mormonism. We also know that the woman called by Spirit, the Elect Lady, the wife of the prophet, was from an area reffered to as The Avalon of America.

If you're wondering about Avalon read here.

So let's review a few of my favorite passages from D&C 25.

3 Behold, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art an elect lady, whom I have called.

7 And thou shalt be ordained under his hand to expound scriptures, and to exhort the church, according as it shall be given thee by my Spirit.

8 For he shall lay his ahands upon thee, and thou shalt receive the Holy Ghost, and thy time shall be given to writing, and to learning much.

15 Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of brighteousness thou shalt receive

A crown of brightness. All hail Queen Emma! :)

Joseph called her "My beloved Emma—she that was my wife, even the wife of my youth, and the choice of my heart" (History of the Church, 5:107). (http://prophets.ldsblogs.com/?cat=194)

I adore you Emma, you give me strength and courage, my beloved Prophetess.

The Elect Lady

I feel called to write about Emma today.

Oh, sweet and powerful Emma, I adore and love you, my prophtess, the Elect Lady.

Emma is described to us by the revelation of Spirit in D & C 25. This revelation was given to Joseph Smith, Jr in Emma's hometown of Harmony, PA which in and of itself is a huge revalation.

Let's have a glance at the spiritual nature of Pennsylvania, the pot from which the flower that is Emma grew. The following except is from my Master's degree thesis, Heavenly Mothers and Plain Goddesses.

"[Many authors and scholars] trace the current practice of Pow Wow faith healing to the magick and herbal tradition brought by the German communities [to Pennsylvania], fused with mystical Christianity and Native American practices of the region (Guiley and Valiente). Ravenwolf, Valiente, Guiley, pagan practitioners and writers, are backed up by scholars like Barbara Louise Reimensnyder of the University of Pennsylvania, who have found elements of German paganism in what RavenWolf calls the “Avalon of the Americas”, Pennsylvania. The cloak for paganism became the reality after several generations and Pow Wow artists often pray to Jesus and Mary instead of a God and Goddess.

I like to draw from a few sources when I’m making this point which is why I brought up Ravenwolf, Valiente, Guiley and Reimensnyder. I think it’s important to keep in mind that practicing witches in the area, like Ravenwolf, can discover things and make connections that a scholar might not be able to find while scholars like, Reimensyder from the University of Pennsylvania, can bring in academic oversight to the conversation of magick.

Many German descendants practicing PowWow are female, in keeping with the German female healing tradition. Pow Wow artists have many magickal aspects to their practice including the use of a magickal knife called an athome for divination, amulets, casting of lots, pagan symbols in rosettes of their churches, traditional Hex colors or red, white and black and they use astrology to determine gardening schedules, as we will discuss in depth later in the paper (Ravenwolf, Guiley, Valiente and Reimensnyder)."

We know that Joseph used astorology, amulets, seer stones and a magickal daggers in early Mormonism. We also know that the woman called by Spirit, the Elect Lady, the wife of the prophet, was from an area reffered to as The Avalon of America.

If you're wondering about Avalon read here.

So let's review a few of my favorite passages from D&C 25.

3 Behold, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art an elect lady, whom I have called.

7 And thou shalt be ordained under his hand to expound scriptures, and to exhort the church, according as it shall be given thee by my Spirit.

8 For he shall lay his ahands upon thee, and thou shalt receive the Holy Ghost, and thy time shall be given to writing, and to learning much.

15 Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of brighteousness thou shalt receive

A crown of brightness. All hail Queen Emma! :)

Joseph called her "My beloved Emma—she that was my wife, even the wife of my youth, and the choice of my heart" (History of the Church, 5:107). (http://prophets.ldsblogs.com/?cat=194)

I adore you Emma, you give me strength and courage, my beloved Prophetess.

Our Life....

Our life seems for full, so expanding, so glowing that I can scarcely think of anything to blog about but the clear and present - NOW.

My mind is swirling with thoughts of our new place. The lease was signed last night. It looks like our move-in date will be sometime in early to mid March. Can you say thrilling? I'm simply beaming and so happy to get out of our tiny one bedroom - though it has served me well and I do love it for it's own beauty. It has been home to us for so long - 3 years now and it was the home where I gave birth to Ronan.

But upward and onward! We will soon have a two bedroom place on 10 acres! *happy sigh* I'll take and post pics the next time we get down to the new place.

In other news....

We recently created our new spring altar.




The Goddess is Ashanti, African Goddess of fertility and those who are down with Ashanti know she's not a happy spring time Goddess of vague fertility - she's the "don't touch unless you want to get pregnant" kind of Goddess. I just felt she needed to come up for a breather and bring her overwhelming fertile gifts to the whole atmosphere of our family. Does that mean we are trying to conceive number three? Not exactly but Seth, myself and some of my closest friends all know another little spirit is hovering around wanting to come through, so let's just say we recently opened the door - tee hee :)

The altar is also sporting some silk flowers, a water color painting and card sent to me by Lizz, hand dipped egg candles, a wooden box carved in Poland, an oracle card featuring a Goddess with a painted egg, my healing stone from the coast of Britiania, a local sea shell, sage smudging stick, a Chalice and Blade frame with pictures of Mariamne and Yeshu (prints taken from paintings my father-in-law did), and a Valentines Day fortune cookie that Nykki made out of felt.

I'm waiting to move and get our finaces all settled so I can figure out how much money I have to go and buy a few decorations for the altar over at the Waldorf Mama Etsy shop - which if you haven't yet checked it out you totally should! I have my eye on a felted egg or two! Then I'm hopping over here to buy the babe a hat.

On the theme of present moment things in life, here's the present moment babe




Happy Full Moon!

Our Life....

Our life seems for full, so expanding, so glowing that I can scarcely think of anything to blog about but the clear and present - NOW.

My mind is swirling with thoughts of our new place. The lease was signed last night. It looks like our move-in date will be sometime in early to mid March. Can you say thrilling? I'm simply beaming and so happy to get out of our tiny one bedroom - though it has served me well and I do love it for it's own beauty. It has been home to us for so long - 3 years now and it was the home where I gave birth to Ronan.

But upward and onward! We will soon have a two bedroom place on 10 acres! *happy sigh* I'll take and post pics the next time we get down to the new place.

In other news....

We recently created our new spring altar.




The Goddess is Ashanti, African Goddess of fertility and those who are down with Ashanti know she's not a happy spring time Goddess of vague fertility - she's the "don't touch unless you want to get pregnant" kind of Goddess. I just felt she needed to come up for a breather and bring her overwhelming fertile gifts to the whole atmosphere of our family. Does that mean we are trying to conceive number three? Not exactly but Seth, myself and some of my closest friends all know another little spirit is hovering around wanting to come through, so let's just say we recently opened the door - tee hee :)

The altar is also sporting some silk flowers, a water color painting and card sent to me by Lizz, hand dipped egg candles, a wooden box carved in Poland, an oracle card featuring a Goddess with a painted egg, my healing stone from the coast of Britiania, a local sea shell, sage smudging stick, a Chalice and Blade frame with pictures of Mariamne and Yeshu (prints taken from paintings my father-in-law did), and a Valentines Day fortune cookie that Nykki made out of felt.

I'm waiting to move and get our finaces all settled so I can figure out how much money I have to go and buy a few decorations for the altar over at the Waldorf Mama Etsy shop - which if you haven't yet checked it out you totally should! I have my eye on a felted egg or two! Then I'm hopping over here to buy the babe a hat.

On the theme of present moment things in life, here's the present moment babe




Happy Full Moon!

Luisha Teish's Website!

Want to learn more or expand your knowledge on the African Yuroban tradition? One of my favorite profs from Grad school has a new website! Visit her here.

Luisha Teish's Website!

Want to learn more or expand your knowledge on the African Yuroban tradition? One of my favorite profs from Grad school has a new website! Visit her here.