| Tidewater Pagan Women
Summer Newsletter 2006 Summer ushers in the start of the early harvest season when we mow grass, harvest hay, pick cherries and berries, and plant the remainder of the late seasonal crops. During this season, the fresh beauty of springtime fades like a youthful blush giving way to middle age. We continue to tend the gardens of our minds. Our gardens need moisture and needs tilling to keep weeds under control. Summer is a time of exertion and sweat, of perseverance and exuberance. Hard work and the physical activity of summer; a wider call to go out to all the world; a measured sense of maturing and pacing ourselves through appropriate protective measures to avoid overwork. A steady pace is our mission as part of a cooperative enterprise; and a seasonal temptation to think that longer days have begun so there is now more time to work on our spirituality. In both the Pagan and the Christian aspects of spirituality rhythm and seasons are considered to be of great importance in the way one lives ones life, and this can be summed up very well in that wonderful text from Ecclesiastes: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heaven: a time to be born, and time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and time to dance; a time to scatter stones, and time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and time to speak; a time to love; and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. Only you can determine what this time is for you. Refer to your journal, or recall thoughts you had during the winter season. Are you where you wanted to be? Have the weeds taken over your garden? Do you have all of your gardening tools? Here�s a basic list of tools to keep in your shed: A time-slot for meditation Daily Affirmations Connecting to your inner Goddess Journaling One day a week to yourself Self-help Books A support group Can you create a list? What do you do on a regular basis for spiritual growth? If you find that your 'garden' is overcrowded and little grows well, you may need to transplant some items to your nursery bed and save them for another season. Simply look at the size of your garden plot right now. What are the most important 'crops' right now? Perhaps you have small children who need attention. You may have to save the 'I should write a book' seeds for another time. When you look at the garden and see that it is unbalanced, be ruthless. Look at the needs of the seeds you want to grow and make room for only those. Save the others for another season. What do you need to transplant? How do our gardens get over-run with weeds? Is it neglect? The lack of time? Do we collect �I Want�s� and ignore the �I Need�s�? Do you regularly visit other gardens to stimulate your imagination, or to verify your choices? It's wise to do this. Spending all your time in your own garden is limiting. You learn very little and your garden seems so very big. Expand your thinking. See what others are planting and the effects. A new plant may be just what your garden needs for beauty, balance or new growth. The Goddess A Goddess is a Divine female being of supernatural powers or attributes, and the source of life. What divine attributes do you possess? Do you create or bring life to the otherwise lifeless? As a woman, aren�t you in fact a Goddess? * journal these questions ;-) Create a Garden Goddess Your garden goddess can be as simple or complex as you like. Perhaps even a self-portrait. It�s easy and so much fun! Here are some playful suggestions: Choose materials with weather in mind. If you don�t mind your goddess suffering a sea-change, you can use just about anything and then enjoy watching her transformation after repeated rain showers and baking�s in the sun: beeswax, feathers, metals (such as coat hangers), water-based paints, and paper will all do interesting things after being exposed to the elements. You can find a rock that says �goddess� to you and then paint or otherwise adorn her, or simply leave her as is. Once you start looking, you�ll be amazed at the infinite number of goddess-rocks there are. The search for materials is half the fun: seashells, twigs, nutshells, buttons, string, ribbons--anything goes. Empty out your old junk drawers and sewing boxes and go crazy, or take as special walk, on the lookout for things to use. If you want to sing some earth-honoring songs while you make your goddess, go ahead. And when she is completed, you may want to consecrate her: smudging your goddess with special incense smoke, sprinkling her with salt water, singing her a special song, and then carrying her to your altar or out to the garden will all add to your sense of focus. Summer Solstice In 2006, summer begins June 21, 8:26 A.M. EDT (12:26 UT) Summer Solstice, known as Midsummer or Litha, occurs in the middle of June. It is a celebration of the longest day of the year and the beginning of summer. It has been a grand tribal gathering time since ancient times. The Goddess manifests as Mother Earth. It is a festival of community sharing and planetary service. Celebrate Solstice time -- take part in the spirit of gathering. Keep a sacred fire burning throughout the gathering. Stay up all night on Solstice Eve and welcome the rising Sun Goddess at dawn. Make a pledge to Mother Earth of something that you will do to improve the environment and then begin carrying it out. Have a magical gift exchange with friends. Burn your Yule wreath in a Summer Solstice bonfire. Exchange songs, chants, and stories with others in person or through the mail. Do ecstatic dancing to drums around a blazing bonfire. Traditionally, the Sun Deity is described to be male. It is important to also identify with the female Solar Deities. Summer Project: Research each of the Solar Goddesses. What are their stories? Which do you connect with? Aega Aimend �ine Alectrona Amaterasu Atanea Atanua Atarapa Aurora Bast Chicomecoat Eos �ta�n Gnowee Hemera Mahu Malina Pakhet Saul? Sol Wala Wuriupranili Yhi Zaria The Scents of Summer�.essential oil mixes for summer Amaterasu Eros Aurora 6 drops lime, distilled 3 drops rose 5 drops rosewood 3 drops bergamot 5 drops ylang ylang 4 drops lemon 3 drops Bulgarian lavender 2 drops lime 2 drops rose geranium 2 drops sweet orange 1 drop tangerine 1 drop ylang ylang 1 drop jasmin absolute Carrot & Coconut Bisque This mouth-watering soup with its cheery orange color gives comforting creaminess without dairy. Instead, it makes use of coconut milk, reminiscent of mother's milk (the original comfort food!) while carrots add nourishing vitamins and beta-carotene. Add a bit of sweet, earthy-tasting nutmeg and you have a soup fit for a goddess. So soothing and easy to make. INGREDIENTS 10 medium carrots, chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil � cup minced shallots � teaspoon white pepper 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 tablespoon whole-wheat flour 1 cup vegetable stock 1 � cups light coconut milk � cup finely chopped basil (available in most grocery stores), reserving a few sprigs for garnish � teaspoon nutmeg 1. Steam carrots over medium heat until soft (about 7 to 10 minutes). 2. While carrots are steaming, heat olive oil in large soup pot and saut� shallots, pepper, and salt until shallots are translucent. Stir in flour and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Slowly stir in stock and cook until mixture thickens. 3. Add carrots to stock mixture and puree until very smooth. Add coconut milk to carrot mixture and puree again until smooth. 4. Return to pot and stir in basil and nutmeg. Heat on low just until basil wilts (do not over cook - the coconut milk will lose its delicate flavor). Garnish with fresh springs of basil. Servings 4. ...The wheel is turning, oh so quickly it seems. Live this moment while we have it. Pause and listen for the song of the birds of summer, breath the fragrance of a beautiful flower or take a moonlit walk. Soon the shadows of the coming season will turn us inward once more. In Love & Light Always, Alison |