Honoring Death - Bless you Uncle Bob, Bless you Donna Summer

Every time one of my music idols dies, a little piece of me goes too. I feel their loss deeply and profoundly as their music makes up the soundtrack of my life. I realize they obtain their immortality through the love of listening to their music over and over. I'm still grieving so many wonderful musicians who have passed over lately and am grateful for their gifts and how they shared their music with me, helping me to celebrate, laugh, dance or cry through the moments of my life. My Uncle Bob passed last Thursday and I couldn't find the tears until Donna Summer, passed over as well. For some reason listening to her songs brought back my childhood memories of good times I had with him. In this tech age of instant soundbites of life and notifications coming in so quickly seems like we never get the time to sit and honor death. I know we all go this way eventually and yet it still makes me very sad, when someone passes that had such an impact on my life.

As always Bright Blessings to You.

A Magickal Land Called Beltania

We arrived at Beltania, which was located in Florence, CO on Thursday, May 10, 2012.  It was a beautiful sunny day.  We were greeted at the gate by joyful staff and graciously directed to our campsite.  As it was getting late in the afternoon, we needed to set up camp and I needed to get into sacred space, as I was delivering the Charge of The Goddess for the evening opening Ritual.

The ritual was beautiful.  I delivered the Charge, while another beautiful male soul invoked The God.  We all stood on a hillside, in the evening light, in Circle, and stepped between two bale fires.  The Circle was cast, the Fires lit and The Goddess and God invoked for the entire festival.  What a glorious time was had by all!
We had workshops, drum circles, concerts, Highland Games, and the largest Maypole raising to date.  You can view a video of the Maypole raising here:
http://www.craftandconjure.com/beltania

We made so many new friends and had a great time reconnecting with others.  The Pagan community of Colorado is rich, vibrant and full of life.  We are deeply established and ingrained in the Colorado soil.   It refreshes my soul, heart and mind to gather with my community in Nature, to worship, dance, play and have fun!  We welcome all paths and faiths and this year there were many newcomers much to our delight.  We never proselytize nor seek to convert.  However when you find your way to us, we are here, we are here!

So now the Wheel has officially turned and we shall enjoy the beautiful Spring, as it makes it way to Summer.  Blessed Be!

As always, Bright Blessings to You!

A Land Called Beltania!

My heart is full and I give thanks for all my blessings! We are preparing for Beltania, where I will deliver (thank you Goddess) the Charge of the Goddess at Opening Ceremonies! I can hardly wait to spend time in Nature with my family and friends, dance the Maypole, drum, buy some cool stuff and hang out! It's gonna be a great time! If you're coming I look forward to seeing you. If not, I hope you can make it next year!

 

http://www.beltania.org/

 

As always, I wish you Bright Blessings!

Raven Magick

David Carson - Medicine Cards

Blessed Raven, sacred Raven.  Dark bird of mystery and magick, how thee stirs my soul!  The ravens have had babies! 

Spirit has blessed me to witness the cycle of life for a Raven family.  For about a month I've been quietly keeping my eye on the nest of two magnificent ravens.  I've been watching them fly, gather twigs, build and guard their nest.  Although a raven looks like a crow, they are two different types of birds, although related.  One can always distinguish ravens from crows by their call.  While crows "caw", ravens "aouck".  And ravens are much larger than crows.  Once you see one in flight or up close, you are sure to remember the difference between the two.

Why am I so excited about ravens?  This is the first time I've ever seen them build a nest and actually have babies! .  The last raven nest I saw was high a top a movie theatre.  I could see the nest, the parents, but definitely couldn't see or hear the babies.  The nest was way too high and far away.  However just yesterday, in the nest I've been watching I was able to see the entire family!  I can see Mom,  Dad and the babies.  I'm very careful not to stare too long or get too close.  Being close to a raven nest can be very intimidating.  They are very powerful, large, black birds.  Today, I actually saw the parents feeding the babies.

My magickal mind is spinning with meanings, correllations, hidden secret messages, as the Raven is the bringer of magick and the guardian of ceremonial magick and rites (thank you David Carson - Medicine Cards).  Stories of the Raven and the Full Moon are plentiful.  The Moon is Full in the sign of Scorpio this weekend, as well as it being a Super Moon.  Perhaps Raven will visit me in my dreams tonight.  We'll just have to wait and see.

As always, Bright Blessings to You and Happy Full Moon!