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The Strength to Persevere

We drove down to Atkins, Arkansas this weekend, to help friends with clean-up after a devastating tornado hit the area on Super Tuesday, February 5th. Aside from getting a bit lost, and almost running out of gas in the middle of nowhere, we eventually made it down to their house.

Driving in to Atkins as we did, from the northwest, you don't really see much in the way of damage. Twice now we've lived through tornadoes, once when we lived in Vilonia, Arkansas and once when we lived in Morrilton, Arkansas - and both times, it was pretty obvious that a tornado had barrelled through. So, we were a bit surprised at how normal everything looked in town -- until we turned onto our friends' street - and the true extent of the devastation became clear.

Several homes were completely and utterly gone - only concrete foundations remained at one house - twisted vehicles and trailers, and huge oak trees pulled out of the ground and tossed around like pick-up sticks - and every inch of ground covered by the remnants of lives torn apart: pictures, pots, papers, insulations, fencing, pet bowls - all just strewn about.

Utter devastation - it just took your breath away.

Then we pulled into their driveway with our trailer in tow and what do we see? Friends and neighbors, hauling tree limbs, raking up debris, laughing and joking and finding a way to persevere through it all. I don't think I've ever been so proud to call myself a member of community before - to see all of these folks who had driven hours from their homes across the state to come and help out - and bring smiles and hugs, laughter and support. Our friends' house was literally raised off its foundations several times; their bedroom was pretty much obliterated, and their vehicles took a whale of a beating. But they managed to smile and laugh, joke and hug with all of us, even through all of this. Their strength was truly inspirational.

The one tearful part of the afternoon was related to the Grandmother Tree - this beautiful cedar had graced their garden and kept the house safe, and it now lay resting on the ground where it had fallen. We were honored to be asked to take this very special tree and to bring its remains to Pyrth Annwn to become part of the opening revel fire for our next Weekend in May, but as the chainsaws began to bring her to a more manageable size, the tears did flow. It was decided that her base would remain as an altar in our memory garden, so that a part of her would always be in sacred space.

I look forward to next weekend when we can place her there, and decorate her appropriately, for she stands not only for our friends, but for all those who stand up to adversity, and she stands for the love and support of community through thick and thin.

Reverend Whitney's Homework for the Day

My darling friend Whitney occasionally sends out missives from her higher self as daily exercises for meditation work. Below, is the one she sent today and I felt spirit move me to share it with you.

The druids believe that the soul encompasses the far extents of time and space, unencumbered by temporal dimensions. For the Celtic peoples, the physical world is seen to be made up of three elemental dimensions: the depths of the sea, the breadth of the Earth, and the airy regions of the heavens. Fusing these three dimensions together is the fiery Sun, whose diurnal circuit maintains the life of the apparent world.

Each soul lives within the dispensation of these dimensions; but the soul is regarded as yet greater than these, able not only to move through water, earth, air and fire but also to travel beyond these modes into the wider domain of the unseen world. For the Soul, the passage of ages is but a day in cosmic time; there is no sense of time passing, only an eternal present to soul-travelers who enter the otherworld.

When we begin to pay attention to our soul, rather than ignoring its needs and urgings, we experience a sense of inclusion within the Universe. When we learn to pass beyond the limits of our body as soul-travelers, we discover that the constellations and planets that spin within the soul are qualities, intelligences, and allies we have always longed for.

Look into the depths of your Soul, as into the immensity of inner space.
How is the cosmos reflected within your soul? What constellations and planets are featured therein? Within the Solar System of your Soul, what major features do you recognize?

Coming full circle - in Circle

This weekend, I had the honor to stand with my sister in Circle, as we initiated the new members of her coven into our tradition. My sister taught me, so to stand there with her and bring these neophytes through to the start of their journey on this path, brought the circle to completion for me in so many ways.

We often talk about the turn of the wheel when we refer to the year as a whole, the changing of the seasons and the transition from Sabbat to Sabbat - but this time, it truly hit home with me how much these turns impact our lives.

12 years ago, I found this family of coven brothers and sisters, and set my feet upon the path I now walk to this day - one of teaching, learning, growing and changing. In those twelve years, I've gotten divorced, found my voice, lived in four states, found my soul mate, studied at seminary for a year to become an ordained interfaith minister, began teaching my own students, became a Reiki Master, my partner and I bought 43 acres of land upon which to build a future, we started a non-profit Interfaith Foundation and a Pagan Festival in the Bible Belt, I began a blog, and found my stride as a person on this planet.

I have buried friends, familiars and old habits and welcomed new friends and familiars into my life. I have learned to let go, to just be and to find comfort in a good book and a cup of hot chocolate.

I think back on the woman who was me 12 years ago, and the transformation is startling - the mouse has become a lioness. So mote it be.