Powerful First Week of Spring 2013!

The first week of Spring has come to an end and what a rush it has been!  On Tuesday, March 19th, we celebrated Minerva's Day.  On my Priestess Najah Facebook page, you can see some wonderful photos of my visit to Bath, England and my photos of the Roman Baths.  It was here that I was introduced to the Goddess Minerva.  I had hoped upon traveling to England, I would be introduced to facets of the Goddess I had not yet known.  What a blessing it was to meet Goddess Minerva in her temple of Sulis Minerva, in Bath, England!

On Wednesday, March 20th, we welcomed Ostara and the first day of Spring.  I previously posted my Ostara altar and photos.  As we move past Ostara, I am grateful for those of us that keep the Wheel,  follow and acknowledge the turn of the seasons.  For years before I found my path to the Goddess, I always wondered, "what does a bunny and an egg have to do with Easter?".  I am grateful I no longer have those questions!

And on Friday, March 22nd, it was opening day at the Denver March Powwow!  The Denver March Powwow holds a very special place in my heart.  For years I attended the Powwow as a spectator, then for a few years I was blessed to be a vendor at the Powwow.  How special it was to arrive early and set up the booth, hang out and chat with other vendors, and dancers before the general public arrived.  Now I have returned to spectator mode and I'm having a great time. As a person who hails from Black and Cherokee ancestry, the Powwow holds special meaning for me.  My paternal Grandfather was a full-blooded Cherokee Indian.  In addition, while we follow paths of a European nature, the Powwow gives us the opportunity to be with and honor the Indigenous People of North America.  We have wonderful power, right here in the native soil of North America.   Below is a photo of the beautiful Denver March Powwow Grand Entry, followed by a video the Teen Girls Fancy Shawl dancing:

To end the week,  today (March 23, 2013), Mother Nature has sent Denver a wicked Spring Storm.

 I suppose we need to slow down a bit after such a busy week.  However I am grateful for the burst of life that comes with the first week of Spring. That's really what its about, right?!

Hope you are enjoying your first week of Spring.

Bright Blessings,
Priestess Najah

Hail and Welcome Ostara 2013!

Hail and Welcome Ostara!  Blessed be the Waxing Light and the turn of the Wheel.  We gratefully bid farewell to Winter and welcome Spring!  In the Southern Hemisphere our sisters and brothers bid welcome to the Autumn.

This morning it was a bit chilly here in a Denver, yet the Dawn came bursting forth with the call of a new day, a new season.  The birds are chirping, the flickers are drumming.  As this Ostara comes with the Waxing Moon, its a wonderful time to give thought to what one would like to increase and grow this season.

Ostara Altar of Priestess Najah

May you blessed with the brightest of blessings this season!

Priestess Najah

Irish Gratitude

I've long felt that Black people and Irish people share a common bond.  We share a love of fiddle music, we understand oppression in a way most people don't, and we're deeply religious people.  As a Pagan, I am grateful for the Old Religion of Irish ancestry.  Where would we be without the Celtic folklore, and the history and mystery of Ireland?  Many of the practices that are common in Paganism and Wicca come from the Irish, especially if you are one who follow the practices of the Druids or the Fey.  "Scratch the topsoil of Irish Christianity, and you come at once to the bedrock of paganism" - Janet and Stewart Farrar, "The Witches Bible".

Yesterday was St. Patrick's day.  Over the weekend many people including myself celebrated, by listening to great music, wearing green, and drinking large amounts of alcohol.  All things in moderation it was a great time, and I have deep gratitude for my true love, my hubby, who is a "Bagley" of Irish/Scottish descent.

Yesterday as we were celebrating, we were blessed to hear live fiddle music.  I love the sound of live fiddle music.  It speaks to me. 

It reaches down into my ole West Virgini roots and to the roots of my paternal Grandfather who was from Barton, Alabama.  Mind you I've never set one foot in Alabama, but I did have some wonderful family reunions in West Virigina.  Nobody ever played fiddle music that I can recall, but I do remember my Mom showing me how she could play the spoons once.  I also love Bluegrass and Irish music.  Recently I feel in love with the band, Civil Wars, who had unique folk, blues sound and recorded the awesome song, "Barton Hollow".  Unfortunately their band has broken up, but perhaps in the future they'll record some more great songs.  Even though I didn't grow up listening to this type of music, obviously one never gets too far from their roots!

In conclusion I gratefully raise a toast to the Irish!  Blessed Be their Culture, their Old Ways, and Spirit!

Priestess Najah

A New Pope

Yesterday the Catholic World elected a new Pope. I watched the pagentry, pomp and circumstance with mixed emotions. 

I was glad to see the Catholic Church elect a Pope from Argentina.  My thoughts had been if the Catholic Church wants to keep moving ahead and growing, they should elect a Pope from lands where people live their faith and practice it.  In my mind that clearly was Latin America.  And that's what they did.  So bully for them. And that's where my enthusiasm ended.  Clearly I do not support a religion or way of life that is steeped in misogyny.

Next I wondered, would I ever live to see the day, where thousands of people are gathered on a hillside worshipping the Goddess, openly?  Would it make media coverage, would the World be rapt in awe as we honor Her presence, Her wisdom, Her ways?  Probably not. 

And it came to me this will not happen for many reasons, first and foremost being, we do not proselytize.  We don't seek to convert.  If you find us we are here, but we will not seek you out.  And it for this reason many of us are drawn to practice the Old Religion, Nature Religions, the Old Ways.  We don't actively seek to infringe our thoughts and beliefs upon others.  We simply seek to practice our ways, in peace.

It struck me odd that Catholicism is growing rapidly in Africa.  When I think of Africa, I think of the Motherland, there's that word "Mother" and of tribal ancient communities.  Why would Catholicism be taking root there?  However we know the power and the long arm of the Church and their missionaries are strong.  It made me a bit a sad to think of Africans in the Motherland coverting to Catholicism.

This morning my Earth Psalm prayer was a good one.  I use my Earth Psalms as an Oracle and I am always pleasantly surprised by what returns.  The ending line in today's prayer was "I await that day Goddess.  I will work and prepare for that day".

And so we continue to work and prepare the way.  Bit by bit little by little, we keep letting the World know we are here, and even more so, SHE is here.

Blessed Be Upon all Pagan, Witches, Believers, Priestesses and Priests, Everywhere.

Priestess Najah

In Between Seasons

Hello Blogosphere!

Not much going in my realm.  It snowed here in Denver today, which was unexpected.  I hate it when the forecasters are off their game.

Its in between seasons or turns of the Wheel time.  I am anxiously awaiting Ostara, the Spring Equinox.  Personally I'm ready to be done with Winter.

For me these are the long days of winter, the months of February and March.  I noticed my last post was on Feb 10, 2013 so I've definitely been in my cave.

My latest Tarot spread turned up several cards that showed people waiting, including the Hanged Man.  And that's where I find myself, waiting...waiting for Spring, waiting for the energy of the Earth to quicken and flowers to blossom, longing for green leaves and sunny days.  Waiting for seeds that have been planted to begin blossoming.

As we wait for the Wheel to turn, may bright blessings be yours!

Priestess Najah

Year of the Snake! Happy Chinese New Year!

Its the New Moon, Year of the Snake; Happy Chinese New Year and Mardi Gras is going on in New Orleans!  Whew, its seems like the whole world has a reason to party today!  And boy am I glad of another opportunity to began again.

Its nice of Mother Nature to give us the opportunity to begin again with each New Moon.  Even though the skies are dark, we await Her first silver crescent with great anticipation.  We know She's coming back.  A fresh new cycle has begun.

The Chinese celebrate the "Spring Festival" from the New Moon to the Full Moon, a full 15 days of celebrating.  How nice of our Chinese brothers and sisters to keep the lunar cycle!  Its awesome to know that somewhere in the world, there are billions of people who follow the lunar cycle in addition to us Pagans, Earth Worshippers and Witches here in the West. 

I pray that this cycle ushers in newness of being and well wishes for us all. 

Bright Blessings to YOU,
Priestess Najah

My Cave and My Blanket. Taos, NM.

As the calendar turned to February, I found myself thinking "where is my cave, where is my blanket?".  My calendar reminded me of how unnatural it is for us to go against the grain of winter.  All I want to do during these days is stay home, read, write and watch movies.  In short, hibernate.

But our society doesn't work that way, at least not in a big city.  We've constructed our world to run 24/7 nonstop and anyone who doesn't keep up that maddening pace is seen as going against the wheel.  "Move over or get out of my way!" seems to be the language of morning and evening drive traffic.

As one who follows the Wheel and is keenly tuned to the seasons, I feel the Earth slow down.  I'm blessed to live in a state where the seasons change.  As the leaves begin to fall in Autumn, I feel a sadness come over me.   As the days get longer, dark and cold, well, some days I'm down right miserable.  I know all about SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), but that's not it for me.  Its the going against the grain of Winter, when I all want to do is hibernate.

There is a place not too far from my home where time seems to move at the correct pace.  The enchanted land of Taos, NM.

Taos Pueblo, photo taken by Najah Lightfoot Bagley

Here the Tiwa People of the Taos Pueblo have been in continual existence for over 1000 years, making the Taos Pueblo the longest continually inhabited place, in North America.

And the magical town of Taos has grown up around the Pueblo. 

Taos Inn, photo taken by Najah Lightfoot Bagley

It takes a bit to get to Taos.  Its in the Northwest corner of NM, surrounded by the Blessed Sacred Mountains.  When you drive into town, you can smell pinion and fireplaces burning. Its quiet.  Taos is the home of mystics, writers, artists, cowboys, farmers, chili lovers and friends.  It is sanctuary.  Georgia O'Keefe stayed a spell at the Sagebrush Inn and painted.  Its the only place where I can get my favorite margarita, "Fire on the Mountain", which is made with Mezcal, at the Taos Inn.  In Winter, You can walk down the street at night and barely see another soul.  Yet take a turn into an Inn or Cantina, and there the whole town is enjoying dinner, drinks and camaraderie.

You can visit the Pueblo and feel the Spirit of the Earth, but watch out for the Pueblo dogs who take no prisoners.

We stayed in Taos for a few days, recently. We've been blessed to travel there since 1996.  In Taos, I can smell the pinion, hear the "quorking" of ravens, watch coyotes pad across the road and see the dogs take them down.  I can walk down the road, have a fantastic New Mexican breakfast or buy some sage at the Pueblo.  And even better, I can sit, be still and hibernate.

Hail to the peace and stillness of Winter.  Hail to the cycles of the Earth and to the Turn of the Wheel.

Winter Blessings to You,
Priestess Najah