"And the future is so bright I gotta wear SHADES..."

So the past two weeks have been a whirlwind.  Yes, Air has been present in my life….”"Who can tell the mind of the Wind? Who can catch it and hold in their hand? Who can tell where the Wind has been blowing? And who among the wise can foretell where it will go?"

As an Egyptian priestess and Air Sun sign I revel in Air its speed and invisibility it delights me filling me with spirit; but now that I have returned to my “real world” and “real time”.  I can look back, and see how important grounding is also.  The ATC (Aquarian Tabernacle Church) Arch priestess Belladonna and her Highpriest Dusty came into our stomping grounds and shared two festivals with me and our communities.  I had the fortunate experience of having them dwell in my home for a few days; teaching me, laughing with me, and loving me.  The time went fast, but the moments are imprinted indelibly on my life.

First we went to the Southern Delta Church of Wicca-ATC May Day festival.  It’s theme was “Getting Back to our Roots” and the week was full of communities getting to know each other better, re-establishing connections, sharing our dreams, learning and laughing from one another, loving each others children’s, playing games, utilizing warrior energy, and listening to Rev. Terry Riley and Rev. Amanda Riley as they reminded us how far we had come and where our community had come from.  It was warm, it was happy, it was home…how nice to be grounded and rooted in such rich red clay soil.  Apple Oaks, Southern Delta Wicca, White Oak Raven, Temple of the Sacred Gift, Temple of the Stone (all ATC) and Summerland Grove and Temple of the Ancient Ones were all present, and working together peacefully and lovingly for the community.  Today we have this many churches, and organized Pagan communities just five years ago we had two.

What happened to make all this growth?  Why so many organizations in such a short amount of time?  Well in this area we have grown that much!  As more and more people declare their spiritual paths pagan the need has arisen for us to offer them services, counseling, rites of passages, workshops, and celebrations that correspond with our Spiritual traditions.  Traditions have been handed down, the younger generation grew up, and so it is the wheel turns and those who taught us have either crossed over or asked us to step up and so we have.  The future does not look dismal here in the Bible Belt for us Pagans it looks bright as the sun, especially after the Temple of the Sacred Gift-ATC opened its new Temple building (that is not in a home anymore) to the public!

Next, we went on to the Pagan Unity Festival, which is put together every year by Tish Owen a well known local pagan/witch/healer/psychic/published author.  The guest speakers were five star caliber:  Belladonna Leveau, Christopher Penzack, Oberon Zell, Dorothy Morrison, Raven Grimassi, and more more more!  The workshops were stellar on everything from Tarot spreads, numerology, how to make oils, candles, ritual workshops, drum workshops.  The music was out the roof with the Tuatha de Danna and Wendy Rule!  Handfastings were numerous, with Tish Owens in her NO spare time still overseeing and conducting them, the vendors top notch, and the spirit was one where all had gathered together for community and there were NO strangers amongst us…for we have come full circle and realize we are really really not alone in these parts!

I am not a camper, I prefer hotels and linen sheets to bunks and dirty floors but all of this was tossed aside to dance, and sing, and be part of rituals, do magick, learn from masters, listen to great songs, and just become part of something so much bigger than just me…SPIRIT.

If you have ever wanted to go to a Pagan festival and never gone…you should.  If you have ever gone and did not like it…maybe you should try again.  The future of our Path is growing so fast, and broad, and strong!  Catch the Air!  Let the Fire warm you!  Drink in that Water!  Feel the Earth beneath your feet!  Join with kindred spirits and shed “you” and become a “we” just for a weekend.  It is nice to remember ever now and again that there is a tapestry being woven and you are a thread in that beautiful creation.

If I met you this weekend thank you for the gift of your time!  If I did not meet you these past two weeks then I hope I met you soon!  Special thanks to Southern Delta Wicca and Tish Owens and BOTH festival staffs for pulling together and off a most fabulous Festival occasion that I will never forget!  VERY very Very Special Thankyous go to my fellow pathwalkers Bella and Dusty and Wiccan Seminary.edu! My cup runneth over…please receive a sip!

"The only way to make sense out of it, is to jump in head first."

 I used to be a "leap without looking" kind of girl, always landing on my feet but possibly fracturing my shin when I landed.  Getting the "thrill" of adrenaline; but not liking the outcome when I had not planned what to do once I had gotten there...or where ever I thought "there" was. One day my father told me that while it was "admirable that I was fearless I should be like a professional swimmer...and pause and take the time to concentrate before I dived in". 

I had a job that summer at a Restoration Hardware (incidentally it closed that summer I swear I had nothing to do with it) and in that shop there was a picture of a woman posed on a diving board.  She was looking at the water, and contemplating her "perfect dive" but she was not jumping...she was just ready.  I stared at that picture everyday at work, ringing up customers; contemplating my next twist or turn in life and reminding myself it was okay to think before I leaped because I knew there was water in the pool.  This was a different take on a concept of faith for me...it made me think, and question a bit more; and I have liked where it has led me.

Many people are like this boy on the right of us scared to death to even dive in...what if they belly flop or land on their head?  Even worse what if they do it in front of friends or complete strangers?  Fear can be immobilizing making us not leap into the air when we know we have to because if we do not, others cannot leap (a line forms behind us) and there is no other way to get to the other side of the pool which is necessary if we are to progress.  I cannot talk you through your fears in life, I can try but you will either listen or you will not.  I cannot make you stop and contemplate diving in and how you want to dive, but I can make you think for just a second. 

Here is my second....DO IT AFRAID!  That is right, when you are afraid of something or feel yourself resisting and you know it is your turn to make a leap you have a right to be scared, it is normal to be afraid; but it is not okay to not leap.  Did you know that scientists can prove that the same part of your brain that says you are "excited" (as in anticipation you want to do a bootie shake excited) is also the same part that tells you "OH no I am scared"?  Thus, your brain labeled something, and you have a choice to either say..."I am not afraid just excited" or "No human likes the unknown but life is an adventure" or "I have a plan, and if don't work out....so what I belly flop."  You do realize you CANNOT fail in life, only learn ways of doing things and approaching things that really do not work for you right?

I am not telling you to ignore running when you are in a dark parking lot and your gut says that guy with his hand in his coat has a gun.  I am not saying there are no "right" or "wrong" code of conduct in the universe (I am pretty sure we can compare all the religions and find common themes of rules that is the purpose of comparative religion).  I am saying When you feel your back is against the wall, and you have to leap...KNOW that the universe and your God/Goddess(s) will not have placed you there if they did not know you could leap and land just fine.

Children, are wonderful examples to us of how you take a "leap of faith" or "just dive into" a new chapter of life.  Look how this girl with no real analytical thinking closes her eyes and just goes for it!  How beautiful and natural that is, she has not been told to "be careful" or that she might "make a complete fool of herself" or that her "friends might laugh" or that she "could lose everything or die".  Sometimes adults do and say to other adults the silliest things that we have "picked up" and "mean well" but do not truly encourage our sojourners on this journey.  It is great to be cautious, and wonderful to try and plan...but do you know that Magic truly happens when you do what is necessary and just "dive right in" ?

So just for this week, when you feel fear or apprehension or anxiety rising in you remember you "label" those emotions it is not the other way around.  Tell yourself "I can do this"  and if afraid go..."I may be afraid but I will do this afraid and then I will not be afraid anymore."  After all what is the worst thing that could happen?  

When we are afraid we ought not to occupy ourselves with endeavoring to prove that there is no danger, but in strengthening ourselves to go on in spite of the danger.  ~Mark Rutherford

 

Thank you for the gift of your time!~

Birth and Death, Life and Joy all meet and become one.

I went to Daughters of the Moon for the third time this year.  Daughters is a festival for women and shares Goddess Spirituality principles, craft classes, yoga, swaps crafts that you make, re acquaints you with old friends and introduces you to new people.  Daughters calls down Avalon for a weekend, or lets you dance with Artemis, you can learn about Sexuality and creation from Isis, or you can Realize you are Hathor, you will learn how to be by yourself, like yourself, and respect yourself.  You will come to realize all people have body issues but in the eyes of your sisters you are not criticized but glorified and blessed.

 We all stay for three nights in the woods in various cabins that look like Lodge halls.  You decorate your room if you want (because some women just love doing this) or you can just decorate your whole Lodge hall like we Temple women did with Columns of Goddesses and the Temple Flag whipping in the wind.  Most likely you will stay within your comfort zone in your cabin and get to spend the night with your girlfriends laughing and talking all night like you were 8...but sometimes you venture out of your box and stay with complete strangers I have done both.

We do zany things like decorate discarded bras and then make them beautiful again so we wear them.  We sing "I got the Maiden Mother Crone in my bra!"  We go on journeys to far away places and meet places inside ourselves we are too busy to acknowledge most of the time.  You take part in workshops about scrying, learn how to puuja (a beautiful prayer opening ceremony led by Leela our Hindu Crone Priestess).  You walk in a labyrinth sometimes, or learn how to read tea leaves.  One year we had a discussion about organic foods, and every year we have fun with henna!  There are drums, and singing...and dancing spontaneously breaks out.  Every woman brings something for lunch, something for breakfast, some snacks...and Steak Dinner as a feast is provided on the last night.

When it is time to leave, we pack our things, sweep out our cabins, take turns cleaning out bathrooms and dining halls.  Then we gather together for closing ritual thank our ancestors, mark our faces with women symbols then take a picture so that we know that for posterity this gathering is important.  We all leave crying, hugging, laughing, and promising to call or text...but we know there will never be another time for us like this until Daughters rolls around the next year.

I am sure we all have fun in the workshops painting our nails, or giving facials.  I am positive we all like buying new blue clothing for the weekend; confidentially I can say decorating ourselves in bold and courageous ways we could never don in the corporate world makes us all glow....BUT what makes DOM special is everything all wadded together wrapped with the bodies of all our various sizes, colors and personalities, and donned with the bow of the Goddess.

IF you have a chance to ever go to a women's only retreat dude you should so go!  If you want to start something small like this in your little town...YOU should do it!  This started 13 years ago with about that many women and this year we had over 80!!!

Women need women, to share everything with good and bad....Women need encouragement and to realize that they share SO much and can learn and laugh with each other so much better than they can alone.....

Thank you ISIS for a wonderful year, and thank you Daughters of the Moon for feeding my soul for one more year.

She looked at them like she could walk right through them

“To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it.”
― Confucius

Witch wars, burning a witch, gossip, envy, arguments, drama.  Yep, we pagans have that in our community.  Just recently I noticed a Highpriestess had authored a book giving advice about WITCH WARS; in fact she named the book just that...Witch wars. While I have not read the book yet, I did download a free copy of it.  I like books, I live in a community (that is in my home alot) and I wanted to read from someone else's perspective how to handle things like "witch wars".

I have a student in my class this year (the third degree class) who believes it is her personal mission in life to "spread peace".  While that sounds broad and at times "hippy dippy naive" the message is beautiful and if we could just apply that in all of our one on one interaction everyday well there would be NO Witch wars.  When I was younger, I rolled my eyes at people that prayed for "no war" while still listening to John Lennon but still could not wrap my head around the concept of NO WAR.

Let us be honest I was born while Vietnam was still happening (Paris 1973 we worked on negotiations, 1975 there was a surrender) so here I am surviving Vietnam which is now a conflict, Desert Storm, and whatever mess we are in now in the Middle East.  However, if I was to make a list of conflicts I bet there are little hornet nests of them that our country is involved in all over the place, and since I am forty years old that is a whole long dang time for us to fuss and fight with other people over things. I bring all of this up because I feel it inevitable has to influence us as Pagans, Citizens, Individuals, groups, Mothers and Fathers....just period. Let us not even go into the younger generation who has grown up seeing it on TV more than I ever did!

How long should one hold a grudge?  You know last year I had some really rough times; and it seems as time progresses I realize some of those same people are never ever going to change or say "I am sorry".  I have to see them at Pagan functions, and feel that anger or hurt in my heart and act as if "everything is okay".  Politics in the Wiccan/Pagan world is like anywhere else you cannot go "all Jerry Springer" on someone in a public venue...or you could and that would set us all back five hundred years and I choose not to go that route.  I realized, in these past few months while brushing elbows with some of them that saying "I am sorry" really is a balm for the wound.  It does not matter if you print it publicly, but if you take the time to say it one on one it makes a person feel better (When people look me in the eye and say I am sorry and I see their sincerity it makes a difference to me).  So, I have gathered from this past year a few things.

ONE:  You cannot hold a grudge you must let it go (if you really do want to not "act" and be sincere in front of others you cannot hold things against people or you get bitter and feel fake.  I have to be authentic in all my actions so I must let it go.)

TWO:  You can express your feelings about the situation to the person one on one but not "dramatically" and if you need someone to "be an arbitrator" this is good also maybe they help you not "go Jerry Springer" on someone.  SO DO tell people that they hurt your feelings, but do it one on one and sincerely then let it go even IF they do not apologize.  You got the hurt out of you...now let it fly away!

THREE:  Elders, Highpriests, Highpriestesses, Clergy, are all people and they have feelings.  Yep, bet that one surprised you!  I say this because I am constantly amazed at watching what people say to their Elders or HP/HPS and being one myself I have felt the sting and confusion at times when people said things to me that they would not say to another person like I have no feelings.  Of course, I remind myself to either speak up or let it go....but I am saying this on a BLOG so remember ALL people regardless of their position have feelings.

FOUR:  Saying I am sorry is the bandaid that balms everything; but SHOWING with actions how sorry you really are mends the wound.  Take that one step further, and go forth into the Pagan community like it never occurred and you are meeting those people for the first time and "give everyone a fair shake" and you have a good philosophy for life.

FIVE:  You cannot please everyone all the time.  You can try, and Goddess Isis knows I do...BUT no matter how hard I try I always have people that are going to say "ugly things" and I cannot let that stop me.  YOU better not let it stop you either because if you really know you are in the right, and you feel that what you are doing is moving your group, family, grove, circle, triad in the right direction keep on chugging chugging...even if NO  ONE other than you understands where you are headed. Gods have a funny sense of humor, and they choose the most amazing ordinary yet not so ordinary folks...when in doubt about what you are doing remember that!

LASTLY:  Everyone needs love, encouragement, comfort, touch, support, and if you are the person who the Gods can use to let them feel these things then PLEASE be that person. Guess what?  It is absolutely possible and highly probable that some of my former "detractors" or really good at this job for others and that is what they are supposed to be.  You cannot be that for everyone; so when in doubt about a person try to keep that in mind...they are kind and loveable to someone...and somebody needs them.

My third degree class has made me dig deep, I smile and roll my eyes at the same time with their phrases...but I also am reminded that these people have not "lived through witch wars" and I pray that they never have too.  I encourage them, to see the God and Goddess in everyone; and with that prodding and encouragement I find that not wanting to be a hypocrite I find myself "trying to do the same".

 
Once I argued with a whole board of Elders that I refused to lead my coven in a ritual for peace because there were no Gods or Goddesses dedicated to peace yet hundreds dedicated and feeding on the energy of war.  I was 27 full of piss and vinegar, sure of my rightness and YET so frigging wrong.  Who cares if there is not a God or Goddess designated to peace?  There is Eirene Goddess of Peace that I have found now, and Kuan Yin the Goddess of compassion who has balmed my soul time and time again, there is an Aspect of Tara who is very Peaceful, and so you see even then I was technically wrong about this and at 27 you are wrong about alot of things and just too GD stubborn to admit it! MY Elders did not call me out; and still talk to me even on Facebook. (I am being super funny here you better laugh)  You see they taught me by example that just because one was an ass does not mean you have to ignore them you can "overlook it" and go on with your life.

So I post here below this blog a song for US the Pagan community, and for my third degree class.....

Give Peace a Chance


********PS please do not think I am against the men and women of the Military just because I posted about PEACE and not holding grudges and war.  I am 100% behind and for my Brothers and Sisters of this country.  I just wish there was no War.

You and I have memories, longer than the road that stretches out ahead..

I am sure many of you have noticed that as time has gone on I have posted less and less.  Things that we commit too like Blogs become just one more thing to do, like a pile of laundry sometimes rather than a "fun thing" when you work, and work and work.  This is why I am writing this to let you know that sometimes I find myself just work, work, working, and when I was not work, work, working it seemed like I had to fill my time up!  So apparently if I stay at home I feel it necessary to fill up every spare moment; and if I am working a job I fill it is necessary to complain about it...:)

I have met, and counseled many women who just cannot "stand being alone"  I have never been one of those people. I always have wanted to be more alone, so I could listen to my thoughts, the universe, and find some peace and quite...but it seems the Universe has always had other plans for me.  Once it seemed like I was finally going to get a home alone (since my oldest child was graduating from Highschool) I got excited and started to plan out my life as a single woman who traveled and was carefree.  Of course, right when I started making plans and putting money aside just for that dream...I met somebody.  Not a somebody that I could go out and listen to bands too and then just go home, No...a somebody that made my heart do flip-flops and made me blush like a teenager.  Damn it!  I fell in love!

No, that was not supposed to happen!  Oh well, then I decided after we got married we would move to New Mexico thus the reason why we drove all the way there and explored all four corners of it on our honeymoon.  But NO, the Gods had another plan for me...Dah dah dah dah!  I was to stay in Memphis, Tennessee and help co-found a Wiccan Church.  F#*#@!!!!~~~  I think you get the idea (that is my best cuss word on this blog).  So we co-founded a Wiccan Church, and it still seemed I wasn't too tied down; I still had options...then Tada!  I was pregnant!  About one month after a "Birthing ritual" for a New Pagan community ritual my husband and I did I found out...yep, I was pregnant.

Now, I have a home, a husband, my twenty one year old has still not left the nest, and a toddler.  Oh and did I mention I am full time Clergy, full time hair stylist/manager of a salon, and a wife, mother, and daughter?  Yeah, something just whammied me!  Seriously, I had plans! 

I am smiling while writing this, because I should have realized that just like writing this blog You cannot plan anything...not really.  Look how much better my life is because of my husband Brian, and baby Cayden.  I like having my 21 year old living at home; I am in no hurry to have him fly the coop.  I love having a Pagan community and teaching students, and pushing myself spiritually like I have never ever done before.  My job as a hair stylist is the best one I think I have ever had; it is loose, full of possibilities and the work environment is gorgeous.

BUT  I cannot just sit outside alone and listen to spirit longer than maybe thirty (If noone is up yet) minutes.  I can hardly find time to write my thoughts down anymore.  I really want to teach an online class and the only thing I can find to budge in my list of things that constantly pile up is this blog...and just when I think I might drop it all together....Ten more people join.  I find, that I cannot seem to let that many people down.

Yep, the lady who said she "wanted freedom" and "no responsibilities" really did not know herself very well did she?  Maybe the Gods don't have such a sense of humor as a way of Grace.  They looked down at my silly stubborn scarred heart, and balmed it with love, and filled my life so full to the brim that it pours over and flows to everyone....and that is EXACTLY what I needed but never realized I was capable of receiving or worthy of. 

I will never be the catlady like my Mamaw with a garden surrounding her house, chicken pens and wild trees and vines.  I will not be like my great Aunts who died with mink coats and diamonds and wild stories for us all to find out after they crossed over.  I will never ever play the Grand ole Opry, or record a Gold record like my Uncle Leon or my Papaw Clifton...I will just be whatever unfolds.

Yes maam' or Yes sir my plan is to really have no plan!  To just take it a day at a time, and see where the next turn in the road leads me....hopefully it leads me back home.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings, and standing here with me chasing paper....

Wanted: 9 muses for inspiration please!

Today we at the Temple of the Sacred Gift-ATC (where I worship and Clergy) we will have a ritual to the Muse Thalia.  One does not hear that word used often anymore "MUSE".  It sounds awkward to our Western ears; and does not flow from the tongue; but it should.  After all where would this world be without music, poetry, dancing, jokes, drama, theater, costumes, reverlry, festivals, ballads, etc.  In short the world would be a dull dullard place!

So, I had to go to the bones of what a Muse was to understand really the phenomenon of NINE women being worshipped that had these skills to pray to them.  What are they?  Muses, are people who inspire us!  It could be your mother who worked two jobs so you could have a roof over your head and become successful like Kanye West.  It could be your father was just a coal miner like Loretta Lynn or Dolly Parton (they both had hit songs about their poor upbringing).  It could be that you are in love and what to share with us why it is you are love like Emily Dickinson, or Shakespeare....

SONNET 130

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:
   And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
   As any she belied with false compare. 



Paintings are the most obvious examples of Muses, my favorite being Frida Kahlo who obviously saw herself as her own muse since she painted herself so much!  How fabulous and much richer our world is because of this though...she has influenced how we see beauty, and re-directed our ideas about color, texture, and what is interesting just from a few brush strokes. It is said that the Mona Lisa is really just Leonardo Davinci because it looks so much like him, but does it really make the painting any less beautiful?  I personally like believing he was inspired by a woman that looked alot like him but obviously whomever the "Mona Lisa" is; she was his muse. Pablo Picasso is notorious for painting the women he was involved with in all of his paintings and thus it begs the question...without inspiration, where would we be?  Furthermore without the magic of Muses there would be no art!

So who are the Muses?  The Muses are the daughters of Zeus and the Titan Mnemosyne, whose name means 'memory'  she spent 9 nights with Zeus and produced her wonderful offspring. Mnemosyne's sacred site was established at Lebadeia, a spring dedicated to memory.  Originally the Muses only sang of the deeds of Zeus, and only lived in Mt. Olympus standing near his throne.  How annoying huh?  Eventually they started singing and writing painting about other Gods and Goddesses,  then they started to branch out realizing that they could inspire humans to write, draw, paint, sing about Gods and Goddesses.  It is said that they literally created dialogues, and better forms of communication (I guess Ugh Ugh a Bugg Bugg didn't translate well) and it seems that before you could say Thalia or Melpomene the Theater was created....and there we all gathered to hear Comedies or Tragedies and learn from the plays while being entertained! ( Friedrich Nietzche claimed that all of life could be condensed to comedy and tragedies spiraling in and out and was obsessed with Apollo and the Muses)  It seems the Muses were not only Godly and beautiful but smart and go-getters also...sounds alike like women today huh?

They eventually stopped following their father around you know, and hooked on to Apollo whom not only was gorgeous but they had alot more in common with.  He became re-named because of this as "Apollon Musegetes" and was the official "director of their choir".  They were not his followers though, because you see he became romantically involved with Thalia and had nine children with her...the Corbyantes. These sons of her inspired ritualistic dancing, trances, heavy drumming, and were associated with the "dark mysteries".  


There are so many poems in literature that start off being prayers to muses that if you were to type in a search engine it would explode (lol) and so many ending with a thanks to them that it would be the same.  It was really a classical style of writing until the modern twentieth century!  Common citizens, and I am sure most artists used to put out offerings and beg for their assistance all the time; and many artists would become bitter when they felt the "muses" had forsaken them or moved on.  But how much like a woman eh?  "SING IN ME OH MUSE" is one of the first lines in the movie "Oh brother where art thou?"  seems even a director needs help from the muses every now and then. Okay, so now I have shared why they are important, where they came from, so why don't I give you a list of their names and what they are good at so you can pray to your very own MUSE?  

Calliope Beautiful voice
Chief of the nine Muses. She was the patron of epic poetry. Her symbol is the writing tablet. (Ipad anyone?)

 Clio Proclaimer
  She was the patron of history, and inventor of historical and heroic poetry. Her symbol was the scroll. (Once again a laptop or Ipad would be a great modern translation)

 Erato Passionate or Lovely
The Muse of lyric poetry about love and eroticism, and mimicry! (can anyone say erotic literature?)

Euterpe Rejoicing Well or Pleasure Giver
The Muse of lyric poetry and music. Known as the cheerful one, who always played a flute! It is rumored she invented the double flute. Jethro Tull and her must have been gettin'g it on.

Polyhymnia Many Songs
Okay, Polyhymia is the somber and beautiful one. She was the Muse of Sacred Hymn, and of Eloquence. She is portrayed in serious thought with a finger to her lips...but meditation is associated with her.  Yoga, or contemplation the brainstorming period before you create...this is HER time.

Melpomene Songstress
She carried a club, or a knife and was only associated with Tragedy in writing.  Watching a sad love story movie where everyone falls in love but cannot have each other?  That is Melpomene's area of expertise!

Terpsichore Rejoicing in the Dance or Whirling
She is the Muse of dancing and choral singing.  It is said she gave birth to the Sirens.  She is always portrayed dancing or with a lyre in her hand.  Are you a belly dancer?  Do you dance alone in your room?  Well take that energy and offer it to Terpsichore!

Thalia Festive or Flourishing
She presides over comedy and pastoral poetry which explains why she holds a comic mask. But Thalia is the "country girl" of the group. She loves to traipse about meadows and forests and rural places that a city girl like me wouldn't know about. That's why she carries the shepherd's crook, as well.  Want to get in touch with Thalia?  Watch the Blue collar comedy tours or Roseanne re-runs and you have it all in a nutshell...she likes to make us laugh!

Urania Mountain Queen
 Muse of astronomy and astrology , her feet rest on a turtle and she holds a globe in her hands and a pair of compasses.  It is said she inspires Chaste love!  The kind you yearn for but never act on!  So if you want to get in touch with Urania, ask for directions with a compass, look at the stars, have a crush on someone you know you will never act on...but while you are feeling all of this...thank Urania!



Lastly, look around you!  See who give you inspiration!  I love Vidal Sassoon and and John Masters when it comes to hair techniques and stories.  When it comes to my Spiritual life I look to Starhawk, or Selena Fox, or Pete Pathfinder, even some of my local elders....when I need to feel inspired; I read their words and I vibrate! 

I am sharing these wonderful Goddesses with you because once I started diving into them I found that I had taken so much of my life for granted, and how much knowledge and fun I was missing out on as a Pagan, Witch, Wiccan, and human being.  I hope these ladies inspire you also...and you find yourself using their names; because they deserve it...and it is fun!

Thank you for the gift of your time.
 

Where there's smoke there's fire...

"Where there's smoke" is the beginning of the saying "Where there's smoke, there's fire," meaning that if there is telltale evidence of some event, the event is probably occurring. ---Wikipedia

Let us be honest, the above is not always the case.  In fact, if you have ever played the gossip game with friends you laughed uproarisly to hear that "doris had an abortion after getting rid of her lice" when it started out as "Doris is looking gorgeous today, I wonder what they put in her rice?".  See they sound similar...but the meaning is really not the same.

Most Highpriestesses will never be as famous as the women whose pictures I will post in this blog (this is Selena Fox btw); in fact their pictures may never come up in Google Images or Photobucket when a search is performed but this does not make their calling in life any less relevant.  I am not sure what it would :"Feel like" to be so famous that you could not walk anywhere without people noticing you but as Clergy of a church I got a little taste of what it is like living in a goldfish bowl.

What is a Highpriestess?  Well, in many religions men head everything but in the Pagan/Wiccan/Witch religion if there is a group formed a Highpriestess is usually the one behind it and cheering it on.  She in turn, usually picks a Highpriest to work with her to serve as the consort (or perform the role of the God) the role of Highpriestess is so important that in the Tarot deck there is a Highpriestess card...but if you notice; no Highpriest.

Highpriestesses come in all shapes and sizes, and it is usually assumed they have trained for three to five years with a Highpriestess, elder, Highpriest, or group to share their traditions with others.  Of course, this is not always the case.  I have known some fabulous Highpriestesses who had no teachers, just literally had a gift for it and made it up as they went along and the Gods blessed them just the same sending them hundreds and hundreds of students.  Those were back in the days where there were not so many teachers, or Highpriestesses and it was not "cool" to call yourself one or "run an occult store".

Highpriestesses get a bad rap alot.  People seem to see them as "controlling, lazy, bossy, and obnoxious" or at least this is what you hear people say that refuse to join any type of group format when it comes to Wicca/Paganism/or being a Witch.  Yet, they do not seem to notice, they are disciplined, very protective of their tribe, teachers who share what they have learned and know for hundreds of people, constantly working even into their sixties and seventies to give birth to person after person who are really "excited" about "discovering" a new path; this does not count how many living rooms or basements or kitchens or bathrooms they have devoted to "pagans" and money they have invested into their Gods.  I mean where would we be as a religion without Priestesses?  It is almost like saying where would we be without the Goddess?

Priestesses can be intimidating, and intense, but they also can be (and most I know are) very loving, motherly, nurturing, concerned, constantly aware, open to new ideas, and an example of what an independent thinker and human being are.  Now, like you all I had in my mind when I became a HPS (this was me thinking of me growing up as a witch) what I would look like, and how I would act, not how I would boss, finally be in charge, and not take crap from anyone.  Unfortunately it seems I get to"eat more crow" and "take more crap" being a HPS than I ever did as just a cute little witchling...but then I also get more credit and praise than I probably should at times also..since I DO HAVE some fabulous luck and wonderful students.

It washes out, and NO I did not grow up to look like the Highpriestess Tarot Card all regal, still, quite, and patient.  I was still the small, wiry, animated, bright haired crazy child only older...and that apparently is why the Gods have a fabulous sense of humor! My teacher was quite, patient, matronly, and felt like a Goosedown pillow.  My Mamaw was small wiry, a fireball, had crazy hair, intense eyes...and wait...I look alot like her!

So, for all you HPS out there...hang in there; you are doing good!  It does not matter if you win a popularity contest; what matters is that you love your Gods and that you listen, and you try your best.  Don't be too hard on yourselves!  For you of you that are NOT Highpriestesses please be nice; try to remember these are humans serving humans and their Gods and trying to do the best they can...and never for monetary gain.  If you have a problem with authority; that's fine but don't join a coven and cause strife.  You know you do not like groups or leadership this does not make you "bad" it makes you know yourself.  However, if you could lay your personal fears aside and try to learn for a little while...that might not be "bad" either...just saying :)

Now this-----------------------------------------> is my favorite Highpriestess picture it is Yoko Ono wrapped in toilet paper at an Art Exhibit and I swear she calls herself a "Highpriestess" and I think that is sort of cool.  Something to relate to, be proud of, and make me laugh...but then I have a weird sense of humor.

What is your impression of Highpriestesses?  Where did you get it from?  How did you if you are one, like the role?

Thanks for reading!  Thanks for sharing!  Thanks for being such a delight!