Re-post: "Archetype: Priestess"

Re-post from my old Super Duper Social Worker Blog, July 2012

While standing around, waiting for ritual to start tonight, I went on a little rant about my recent trip to New Mexico. Last time I was home I facilitated a little ritual for some friends and family while we were out camping, and I was surprised that nearly five years later, they still remembered it. I was even more surprised that they wanted me to facilitate another ritual for the group.

Sometimes I'm amazed at the leadership role I've come into over the years.

Wait, let me explain! I'm not amazed that I take on leadership roles. Let's be realistic. I'm an Aries and the firstborn child out of a large family. It's easy for me to decide to be leader. But what I'm surprised at is this particular role, the role of priestess and minister.

I'm amazed that people trust me so much! I personally don't ritual with just anyone, and I'm pretty critical of ministers and clergy because people in this role have the potential to inflict so much damage. It's a sacred honor, and it should not be taken lightly.

So, when my family asked me to do another ritual, I was excited but nervous. Me? Why me? And I felt as if they had high expectations. I wanted to "wow" them, sure, and show off a bit. But I also wanted them to have a positive and healing experience.

One friend said "well, you write good rituals!" which came as a shock to me because I feel like I have such a hard time writing rituals, though facilitating rituals has gotten much easier over the years. (but I still get pre-show jitters!) and another friend said "well, welcome to the role of priestess."

Because being a priestess isn't just writing rituals. It's not just having a script and getting enough people together at the right time (ha!) to cast circle. It's a role where I am not myself. I'm speaking for Deity. I'm acting on behalf of the Cosmos. I have to be aware of the circle and the participants and time and space and myself. It's reading people and energy and keeping a flow, as well a balance of energy and emotions.

I haven't been doing this priestess thing for very long, not really. But I'm becoming more and more aware of it, being a priestess in both service to God/dess and to those who are in need. So me doing a ritual for my friends and family wasn't just Amanda hanging out in Tracy's backyard. It was a Priestess providing a service for the community, and I hope I was able to do so.

I hope I did them proud, not just Mutti and her friends and my sisters, but God and Goddess, too, and to all of the spirits, seen and unseen, who helped that night.

The Pagan Experience - Deity and the Divine

Wk 3 - May 18 – Deity and the Divine – This will be the third week’s topic every month and an opportunity for you to share with everyone those who guide, inspire and inform you.

**Share your favorite invocation or devotional to the Deity of your choice. 

The very first time I acted as a High Priestess during a ritual was a Samhain ritual hosted by my fostering-coven in Texas.  I was a little Dedicant then, and my High Priest and Mentor made me memorize this prayer and practice it for him many times before the ritual.  I was so nervous!  But at the time of the ritual, I opened my mind, my voice, and my heart, and the words flowed through me.  I remember gazing up at the night sky, hair flying lose, wearing all black scarves and sweaters and skirts.  I remember the stars above and the clouds moving swiftly on that Samhain night.  The ritual was amazing and I really felt the energy flow through me.  After the ritual my Shaman friend came to me and said in an eerie voice "she's heeeere."  He pointed to the heavens and the clouds had formed the face of the Goddess over the huge, glowing moon.

Keeper of Ravenous Dogs,
Bitch Goddess,
Howler,
Bearer of Torch and Knife,
Ruler of the Dark Moon:
Hecate, I pray to you.
Turn your slaying glance from me
and direct it toward my enemies.
And if you can't turn it away,
may it be because there is something in me that must die.
Act with wisdom and discernment, destroying only what must go,
and giving me strength to endure the burning.

By Ceisiwr Serith from Pagan Ritual Prayer Book, A

Pagan Blog Project - week 20 – J#2 – Jet

see below for photo credit

Pagan Blog Project - week 20 – J#2 – Jet

Jet (combined with amber) is a traditional witch’s stone. Stewart and Janet Farrar talk about this in their book, A Witches' Bible: The Complete Witches' Handbook, describing the combination as traditional for a High Priestess to wear as a necklace. I’m sure I’ve seen this description in other places as well.

Like amber, jet is a fossilized stone. While amber is fossilized and ancient tree sap and resin, jet is fossilized driftwood. Because of these ancient origins, one might be able to understand why these two stones pair so well together energetically.

This smooth, black stone is said to be good for filtering and grounding energy. It is said to protect and purify energy and auras, and also can be used to help cleanse other stones (though some say it needs to be cleansed after every use.) When confronted with negativity, jet helps the person understand and confront the challenging energies in a constructive and positive manner. It can be good to enhance clarity and helps people to learn lessons. This is especially useful to those who want to release negative habits. In addition to this, jet is said to be beneficial stone for empaths and to those who are healing from grief.

In these ways, I can see how jet would be a good stone for a High Priestess, who ritually, might be faced with an onslaught of energies all around her, and as a good High Priestess, it is her job to help control those energies. It is said to help manifest will and desire, which would be useful skills for a High Priestess to use during a ritual.

Interested in getting your own piece of jet? Check out my favorite crystal website! (Message me for a super special coupon code)

http://www.healingcrystals.com/Tumbled_Jet_-_Tumbled_Stones.html

Check out information about Amber here:

http://superduperspacewitch.blogspot.com/2014/01/pagan-blog-project-week-two-a2-amber.html

Additional information about jet:

http://meanings.crystalsandjewelry.com/jet/

for the pic of the lovely amber and jet beads
http://www.examiner.com/article/starwind-creations-at-the-shenandoah-midsummer-festival-middleton-va-from-june-25-27-2010
 

Pagan Blog Project – week 7 - D#1 – “TO DARE”

our Lady Liberty, plus tobacco leaf

Pagan Blog Project – week 7 - D#1 – “TO DARE”

My Druids and I (and my sister and a classmate and 25K others) attended the HKonJMarch in Raleigh, North Carolina this past Saturday. According to the website, “In 2006, the Historic Thousands on Jones St. (HKonJ) People's Assembly Coalition was formed under the leadership of Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II and the North Carolina NAACP. It has grown to include over 150 coalition partners.” 

Throughout the day I was trying to explain to my sister why we were marching and it was hard to narrow down the list. Civil rights, voter’s rights, women’s health, immigration reform, safe food and water, anti-fracking, water rights, teacher’ssalaries, LGBTQA rights… and those are just a few. Basically, if you’re a resident of North Carolina, there’s something politically going on to screw you over.

This past summer the NAACP and their coalition hosted Moral Monday protests and marches, and one of my Druids and I attended as many as we could. We quickly became disillusioned with the uber-Christian rhetoric, and really, we’re not at all the type of people to be offended willy-nilly by Christian-centric stuff. One Unitarian Universalist minister mentioned “Earth Religion” once, which was nice and better than nothing, but really doesn’t represent either of us.

My Druids write great liturgy and rituals, so they put together a really wonderful little ritual for us to do before the event every Monday down at the capitol building. We called upon Gods and Goddesses of justice, as well as what my Druids call the American Triad – Liberty, Justice, and Columbia. As Pagans and Polytheists we wanted to be represented. We wanted to be included as clergy. We wanted to include our prayers and our voices to the thousands and thousands of people who have been protesting here in North Carolina. This is our state, too, and we want to move forward together with our brothers and sisters and Others of various faiths and backgrounds.

"If you sing for the river, the river will sing."

(Not to mention our responsibility to our Gods and Ancestors and Nature Spirits and Others. Some of these ask or even require us to engage in our communities and in social justice, and how can we tell Them "no"?)

We DARED.

The three of us right now are able to be pretty much out of the Broom Closet, which gives us certain liberties that other Pagans are not so fortunate to enjoy. Even being able to march in these Moral Monday events might be risky for some in NC (especially state employees) but to march openly and out as a Pagan might be seen as some as even more risky.

But as we try to come together in the spirit of Community and Service, we decided that it was our job to not only attend Marches, but to be at the Marches as openly Neo-Pagan and Polytheist. Because maybe there are other Pagans out there who want to know that others are marching with them. Or maybe we want some prayers that refer to more than “Mother Earth” (who is great, don’t get me wrong.)

So I bought a scarf and decided to use it as a stole. Unfortunately the only pattern I could find was with a pentacle, which represents me (a Neo-Wiccan) but not my Druids (who are members of ADF) but I figured it was start. But we gathered together to do our little ritual at the capital I found myself hiding my scarf once, when a clergyman came upon us, clearly lost (he was looking for a prayer group.) Urgh. Why was I lacking courage? But he smiled, asked us “Oh, are you Neo-Pagans?” and made small talk and was delightful.

The ritual was lovely. Just perfect. Macte esto!

"Close prisons, fund schools"

While we marched I decided to throw my shoulders back, lift my head high, and proudly display my pentacles. I was there as Pagan Clergy. I was there with my friends and comrades-in-arms. I was there as a community leader of the local Pagan community. If I couldn’t face a few dirty looks or questioning stares, then how could I expect others to be faced with the same reaction? Because sure, I’ve been out, but not quite like this…

But at one point, when the super cute Jewish man and his partner turned to us randomly and said “BLESSED BE” I was a little struck. I mumbled my gratitude, but then he told me how he wanted to say it earlier to me but had lost me in the crowd, but was happy he found me again. So I smiled graciously and told him “you as well!”. And I meant it. I hope he and his lovely partner are the most blessed.

And later, a lady came up with a petition about fracking, and she said “oh, you’re Wiccan!” and she told me about the Chapel she is part of in a little town a few hours away, and she was excited to hear about our projects and our networking efforts for this part of North Carolina, and we shared fliers and names and parted ways with a smile.

And these are interactions that would not have taken place at all if I had not DARED.

One website says:

"Middle class over millionaires"

“TO DARE can be interpreted as to have the courage we need to grow. By daring ourselves to step out of our comfort zone, to be something that people see as "other," we are in fact fulfilling our own need "to dare." We are facing that which is unknown, moving into a realm that is far outside what we're used to.”

So as I engage in social activism, community networking, and continue to step into Pagan leadership roles in the community, I realize that I must continue TO DARE. I need to grow. I need to step out of my comfort zone. I need to realize that even though I might get a few confused looks out in public, that’s okay, because I can be out and I owe it to my community to present Paganism with grace and wisdom and love. I may be facing the unknown, but I’m not alone. I have my Druids, and my sister, and that lovely Gay Jewish man, and that sweet lady, and thousands and thousands of others who, in their own way, also dare TO DARE.

Pagan Blog Project - week 6 - C#1 - Crowns and Circlets

not my favorite style, but don't you just love the stars?

Pagan Blog Project - week 6 - C#2 - Crowns and Circlet

Because of my recent studies of the Queen of Heaven/Earth/The Universe/MOTHER OF US ALL, I've been a little obsessed with the idea of crowns, headdresses, tiaras, and circlets. Why don't we all wear one of these things all the time? They're so great!

They're beautiful! They're elegant! They're classy! They're historical! Why did crowns ever go out of style?

not a crown, but still lovely!

Many goddesses of antiquity are crowned, often with stars, moons, flowers, or horns. Inanna is given a crown to show her sovereignty over civilization. Sometimes it is made from stars, flower petals, horns, moons, or all of the above. Cybele wears something similar, as does Isis and even the Blessed Virgin Mary. Artemis is often depicted with a crescent moon, and Hera wears a queenly tiara.

Some Pagans will wear circles or headdresses in ritual, but I'm a little sad that none of my groups ever do this. (Or if they do it's very rarely.) Maybe it seems a bit archaic or inappropriate or too hierarchical or something?

In traditional covens the High Priestess would often wear a crown or circlet. Maybe modern Pagans are pulling away from this tradition and any associations with more structured coven/circle/etc structure, and because of this have pulled away from the idea of wearing headdresses during ritual? None of my Pagan friends and family are really "traditional" in any sense, so I could really see them rolling their eyes at the idea of wearing a circlet during ritual.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/91880337/star-crown?ref=favs_view_2

But I think a headdress can be a fun addition to a ritual. They really making the participants feel good and pretty and maybe even contribute to the specialness of the energy, further setting the ritual apart from mundane reality and the "time away from time, space away from space" aura of ritual in general.








 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/126560083/star-crown?ref=favs_view_5

On Beltane, though, I try to have at least some type of headdress for everyone involved. 

The Maiden gets a crown of flowers, because flowers, like our youth, are fleeting. The Queen gets a crown that is (in theory) passed down from queen to queen (the former maiden becomes the queen.) (To be honest, I've had to buy the Queen's crown a few times. We all have the best intentions, I suppose.) The Crone gets a witch's hat, because regardless of our age, our wisdom is something we carry with us. The Green Man gets a crown made of some type of wild greenery, because that's awesome.

I tried to make this own once. It was a disaster.

Gathering and making these items has really become a special task, and I think everyone really enjoys wearing something extravagant for an already extravagant ritual (isn't Beltane the best?)

Of course I can wear a crown or circlet in the privacy of my own solitary rituals. What's to stop me from being so awesome?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/155807677/bbbl-crystal-rhinestone-headbandbridal?ref=favs_view_3

https://www.etsy.com/listing/121563220/gold-star-headband-gold-star?ref=favs_view_4

I'm never as crafty as I pretend I am, though. The one time I tried to make a crown for myself out of wire I ended up with a jester's type hat. Now, that ended up being kind of appropriate for the ritual I was hosting, but I really had my heart set on being a majestic Queen, and not a holy Fool. But then again, these things have a way of working themselves out, I suppose...

something seasonal, and it looks good on men, too!

Lana Del Ray, snow queen

Go ahead and put on a crown. Do it for realsies. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/125841681/glitter-star-crown-headband-dreamy?ref=favs_view_7

There, don't you feel special?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/172373219/quartz-crystal-hair-comb?ref=favs_view_4

https://www.etsy.com/listing/172392585/rainbow-fluorite-hair-comb?ref=favs_view_2

edit - two more of my favorites! (I bought one!)

In My Heart

It’s been a long time since I’ve had either the interest or energy to send holiday cards. When I managed the coffee shop I was just too busy and tired and crabby to even consider it. And of course being in school is also a valid excuse to be lazy, right? But this year I decided I’d try to put forth more of an effort to get into the holiday spirit, so I’m sending holiday cards.

I’m already ahead of the game (slightly) because at some point a few years ago my husband and I bought boxes and boxes of cards so we have a lot to use. That means I didn’t have to go shopping for cards, which is great because who has time for that?

I did have to go through my address list (still the same list that we used when we sent out wedding announcements in 2007). So I had to edit the list some, changing some last names because of divorces or marriages, adding some names and addresses as my friends and family continue to grow, and sadly deleting some addresses because I’ve lost touch with a few people or because of deaths over the years

Then I sat down this morning and turned on my “White Christmas” playlist on Pandora (told you I was putting forth extra effort) and I addressed each envelope and added our return address. (Which has prompted me to buy some address labels because this is ridiculous.) Of course I spent too much time matching the perfect cards with the perfect people, paying attention to flashiness, glitter, modesty, religious content, potential political messages, etc.

As I wrote a message in each and every card, I realized that this shouldn’t be a mechanical process. When I write “Hope you all have a magical holiday season and many blessings in the new year”, I really mean that. After all, I’m a minister and a priestess. When I write or wish “blessings”, it’s not just a random word I’m throwing around. I really do wish these people (and others!) blessings for the new year. 2013 was very hard on many people, and I hope 2014 is better. You all could use all the blessings you can get!

 

As a witch, wishing someone Christmas Magic might have the potential to be something special. I’m not really casting spells or charms on my Christmas cards in a traditional sense, but regardless of one’s background and current practices, this holiday season holds special meaning for many people. Even when I was conducting group therapy up at the state psyche hospital, one of the girls said rather dreamily “Christmas is just so magical.” And she is right, I think. It is magical.

Christmas Magic is a special type of magic, so when I write “I hope you have a magical Christmas” perhaps maybe I’m adding just a little bit of magic into the world. Some of my cards are going to family members I haven’t seen in years and years, and others are going to friends I see every day. But that doesn’t mean that they all can’t enjoy some extra magic this holiday season, or that they won’t benefit from some extra blessings in 2014.

So quiet unexpectedly, writing holiday cards became an act of magic and intention for me this morning. I turned on the lights on my tree. I lit some candles. I turned up the Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. I got comfortable with a cozy sweater and I wrote holiday cards, sending out a little bit of magic and a few little blessings to those I love and those I have loved.

Because regardless of one’s practices and beliefs, we could all use a little something something extra this season.