New Moon Rising

There's a new moon rising tonight, bringing with it a time of New Beginnings.
The Moon represents the unconscious, both individually and collectively. It is obedient and tends to do what we ask it to, which is why we need to start asking it very clear and specific questions - especially at the time of the New Moon.

And for me, especially this new moon, for it is in the sign of Aries, my birth sign - which means the new beginnings will take on an Arian tinge. Now, if you know or love an Aries, you also know that 1) we're stubborn as hell and 2) we tend to leap into the fray without forethought or planning, because - hey, why wait?

Our lives at Pyrth Annwn sit at a crossroads - with many paths leading forward into the mist. Which path we take will cause great change, not only to ourselves but to all the other people who know us and interact with us. Family, friends, jobs, the events we facilitate, our students, our chosen family, even our furry kiddos will be affected.

And we can't do the whole two steps forward one step back routine. Once we move forward that's it - concrete set, path designated, come what may.

So what choice do we make? Which step do we take? Do we charge headlong into the fray saying damn the fates, all speed ahead...or do we acquiesce to the fates and allow our lives to be completely upended?

Are there really any choices, or are those themselves just an illusion? Are the many paths before us merely one path broken out into separate parts?

So many questions, and so few answers. I will light a red candle tonight beneath the shadow of the new moon and pray for guidance come the dawn.

Vernal Equinox - Time of Rebirth, Renewal & the Return of the Light

The time of the wheel has turned to the Spring Equinox - the balance of night and day, when - from this moment forward - the days become longer and the nights become shorter. Once again, we have made it through our harsh winter and emerged into the budding daylight of springtime.

Ostara, Goddess of Spring and the Dawn (Oestre / Eastre)

Easter is named for a Saxon goddess who was known by the names of Oestre or Eastre, and in Germany by the name of Ostara. She is a goddess of the dawn and the spring, and her name derives from words for dawn, the shining light arising from the east. Our words for the "female hormone" estrogen derives from her name.

Ostara was, of course, a fertility goddess. Bringing in the end of winter, with the days brighter and growing longer after the vernal equinox, Ostara had a passion for new life. Her presence was felt in the flowering of plants and the birth of babies, both animal and human. The rabbit (well known for its propensity for rapid reproduction) was her sacred animal.

Easter eggs and the Easter Bunny both featured in the spring festivals of Ostara, which were initially held during the feasts of the goddess Ishtar | Inanna. Eggs are an obvious symbol of fertility, and the newborn chicks an adorable representation of new growth. Brightly colored eggs, chicks, and bunnies were all used at festival time to express appreciation for Ostara's gift of abundance.

At this time of year, my chosen family comes together to celebrate the dream time - this last longer night of darkness before the equilibrium of the equinox appears. We sleep together in a dream circle, in hopes of using our combined energies to help manifest our hopes and dreams for this turn of the wheel.

The breezes of air surround us, playfully making the daffodils sway to and fro. The gentle rains coax the new growth out of the freshly thawed earth, so that they may reach for the warmth of the fiery sun above them.

Use this time wisely - be aware of new possibilities, of the renewed energy and beauty in the world around you and within yourself.

A Single Grain of Rice

The following was written by my sister, Ahriana. It's a story that must be shared with as many as possible, and thus, I include it here...

A Single Grain of Rice

I should probably begin by explaining that there is no way, regardless how many words I use or how eloquent I might be, that I could really share with you the full experience that I had yesterday. Be that as it may, I am compelled to attempt this sharing anyway because the importance of the experience is too big to keep to myself.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking as part of an interfaith panel at Pine Creek High School. Although the panel presentation, in itself, contained unique moments worthy of discussion, it is what happened afterward that affected me so deeply.

As one group of students left the room and another began to enter, the teacher who was preparing to teach the next class approached several of us and invited us to stay. She explained that her class has been studying genocide and that she would be providing a very powerful demonstration she felt we would appreciate.

I was a bit intrigued, but my own children, who did not have school, were waiting at the sitter’s for me to pick them up, so I graciously asked if I could stay “for a few moments” and sat by the door so that I could slide out without disturbing anyone when it was time for me to leave.

I intended to stay for ten minutes or so.

The only other person from the panel who stayed was the Rabbi – a lovely chaplain from the Air Force Academy. He was gracious enough to offer me a closer chair next to him, and, as someone who has come to appreciate any opportunity to get to know folks from other faith traditions more personally, I could not help but accept. It was a very good choice – and I am grateful for the Rabbi’s gesture because, without it, I might actually have missed something life changing.

The teacher began by laying out several black sheets on the open floor. The students were instructed to sit around them so they would have a better view. In a very matter-of-fact way, she then explained how she and a colleague had wanted to demonstrate the number of people who had been killed by genocide. After a lot of thought, they came up with an idea. They would buy a bag of rice and count how many grains were in a cup, then multiply the cups to get the correct numbers for various incidents throughout history. She explained that each grain of rice represented one human being and she directed our attention to the giant bins that contained what was needed for the exercise.

To begin, each person in attendance was presented with a handful of rice to hold. “What you have in your hand is about as many grains of rice as there are students in this high school (1500),” she explained. Then the teacher went to the CD player and introduced a haunting melody.

The music played and she began pouring rice on the ebony canvas.

I wish I had taken note of the exact numbers but the piles quickly became so immense that I could feel myself struggling with my emotions. At that moment, my logical mind was trying to wrap itself around a reality I could hardly comprehend.

“1.5 million.” “150,000.” “300,000.” “7 million.” “Hundreds of thousands in only 100 days.” The figures were staggering. To actually look at the massive mounds of rice and recognize, in such a visceral way, how many men, women and children had died was almost too much to take in. “Turkey, Germany, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and continuing to this very day in Darfur, “ she said, as the piles grew and grew. The largest number? Native Americans. “Everything on this sheet – twice!”

Each grain of rice is a human being who has died as a result of genocide

My emotions eventually got the better of me. Tears fell freely as I embraced the severity of what she was demonstrating.

I watched as young women with mascara-lined eyes wiped away the darkened streaks that ran down their cheeks. I observed vibrant young men leaning forward, heads resting into their hands, as if to hold back the thoughts that could not be spoken. This was a lesson they would never forget – and neither will I.

Toward the end the rice we had been holding was collected. “It is believed,” she explained, “that, in our lives, we will each have the chance to influence about as many people as you have grains of rice in your hand.” We were asked to retain one grain and surrender the rest into a common container.

She paused and asked, “What kind of influence will you be?”

After allowing us a few moments to ponder, she changed the music to something more upbeat. One by one, she brought forth vessels of various sizes and shapes, containing varying amount of rice that represented numbers of individuals who had influenced the world in a positive way. Mother Theresa, - The Survivors of Auschwitz who shared their stories with the world, - The nine Prisoners of War that kept alive the memories of those who had not made it home. There were many examples.

She spoke about how one person could change the world – and presented the data necessary to prove her point.

And when she had finished, each student was invited to glue their single grain of rice on a piece of paper and to write what they were feeling.

Slowly a few students came forward, running their fingers through the piles, and contemplating all that had been seen and heard. As they moved to their desks to write, I quietly placed my grain of rice in my pocket, said a soft goodbye to the Rabbi, and took my leave. I had feelings of my own to sort out – and children who were waiting for me.

When I arrived home, I reached into my pocket, afraid I might have lost such a small treasure, and gratefully retrieved that single grain of rice. I placed it in a heart-shaped dish on my altar.

So you see, my friends, I could not simply “leave it at that” for I too have some influence in the world. I know that I am blessed to have your ear – and in some cases, your heart – so I must pass along the question that was asked yesterday.

“What kind of an influence will you be on the world we share?”

Whatever you choose, I hope you will remember how powerful you are and act accordingly.

You are LOVE and you are loved!

Ahriana
3/13/2009

To find out more about my sister and the good work she's doing in Colorado, please go to www.ecospiritual.com.

"You're living in a what?"

That's the response we tend to get nowadays from folks who can't believe we've made the move out to our land in Salem without having our cabin built yet...when we tell them we're living in a tent, or tents actually. Let me tell you, during the ice storm, we were actually better off in our tents than most folks (aside from the danger of being flattened by falling trees - other than that we were better off).


We've cobbled together two tents covered by a large blue tarp and consisting of a bedroom in the back and a closet/kitchen in the front. That's Cenau checking out the kitchen and Remy inspecting the comfiness of the bed.



We actually have a lovely kitchen tent that we use normally, but as cold as it's been, we got smart and moved a smaller version of it into our house tent for the time being.



To keep warm, we've added a wood stove to the back of the bedroom tent - surprisingly enough, it works great, and keeps the bedroom tent about 20 degrees warmer than outside.




Once it warms up a bit, Bren's a whiz at campsite cooking, and we'll start making good use of our campfire cooking ring.



And of course, as far as "facilities" go, we have our lovely composting toilets, which Brennan and our friends Richard and Cheri helped us build.



We have a wash station set up for doing dishes, and once it gets warmer, we'll have our solar shower for washing ourselves - right now we gratefully stop by our friend Megan's for a shower and hot meal in town. Plus we have a generator for electricity to power lights and my laptop, and a wonderful propane stove plus stone fireplace in the bedroom tent as a back-up in case the wood stove fire goes out.



All in all, it's not so bad - quite the adventure really. Now when we move the cats up here - that's going to be the real adventure - they get a tent all their own. Complete with futon for sleeping on, cat perch for bird watching and kitty dinner table for munchies and crunchies. Updates on that later. For now, it's back to building the cabin with the floor finished and the walls starting to come back together. More photos of that soon!