Dear
Full Circle Friends and Members,
In
this July edition of our newsletter we have:
On the
Pagan Bookshelf this month we have:
The
Double Goddess: Women Sharing Power by Vicki Noble
In
this first serious study of the double goddess of Neolithic and Bronze Age
cultures, Vicki Noble provides an archetype for the sacred potential of female
bonding for modern women. The double
goddess in all her varied forms depicts the vast array of potential
relationship women can experience with each other and offers a lesson in how
they can share power in those relationships.
101
Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies by Gwen Steege
Whether
you like your chocolate chip cookies with or without nuts, chewy or crumbly,
traditional, exotic, healthy, adventurous, decadent, or completely
over-the-top, you'll find the perfect recipe in 101 Perfect Chocolate Chip
Cookies.
These
101 scrumptious cookies were selected from among more than 2,600 entries in a
contest sponsored by The Orchards, a charming 4-star inn located in
Williamstown, Massachusetts. They range from melt-in-your-mouth versions of the
classic chocolate chip cookie to cookies with all kinds of delectable, unusual
ingredients, including:
- Macadamia Mild Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Brownie Chip Meringues
- Ice Cream Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Tiger-Striped Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Kentucky Derby Chip Delights
Demon
Lovers: Witchcraft, Sex and the Crisis of Faith by Walter Stephens.
“Most
of the 86 witchcraft treatises …contain accounts of sexual intercourse with
satanic spirits. Why? Were the authors remorseless misogynists hell-bent on
portraying women in the worst possible light? Were they lurid, repressed
celibates who got off by writing accounts of demon sex? Stephens didn't think
so; the texts, in his view, didn't support that reading. Elsewhere in the Malleus
he had found a key reference to accused witches under torture as being
"expert witnesses to the reality of carnal interaction between humans and
demons." These guys are trying to construct proofs that demons exist,
he thought. They're trying to convince skeptics. And then he thought, They're
trying to convince themselves.”
To
read more about his thesis, go to:
http://www.jhu.edu/~jhumag/0602web/stephens.html
Full
Circle has recently been awarded the Triskellion Award for services to the
greater Pagan community. This award is
given by Triskellion Wicca, a group based in Northeast, Minneapolis. Their website is:
http://www.usfamily.net/web/triskellion1/index.html
The
website states that the Triskellion award is given in recognition for:
“Standing
against abuse within the craft or of the craft by those who seek to dominate it
by force or fraud. This does not cover
witch wars but actual criminal abuse against someone else. …It is also given
out in recognition of service to the Old Gods that goes beyond self interest
and is a true gift to the Gods.”
Full
Circle received this award for our work with the Humane Society in cases of
animal abuse, our efforts to dispel (pun intended) any hostile myths about the
Pagan community, and our success in forming positive alliances with animal
rescue groups in Northern California.
It was also given in recognition of our fundraising activities on behalf
of the Santa Clara Humane Society via our annual Witches’ Ball.
The
award came in the form of a certificate and a beautiful hand cast bronze altar
pentacle. Surrounding the pentacle,
are oak leaves and acorns done in bronze and copper. We have placed this lovely piece on the Full Circle altar with pride.
We
accept this award on behalf of our Volunteers and the Attendees who have
supported the Witches’ Ball in past years.
Full
Circle would like to thank the Elders at Triskellion Wicca for this honor.
“Be kind to that tiny plastic duck at the ocean's edge. He's been
lost at sea for 11 years.
The duck's trip to an East Coast beach started in January 1992,
when a storm in the Pacific rocked a cargo ship and tossed a dozen containers
overboard.
One
of the giant metal boxes held a shipment of plastic toys made in China for a
company called The First Years. When that crate broke open, 29,000 plastic
ducks, turtles, frogs and beavers gained their freedom...”
http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=56793&ran=191872
COLORING
PAGES:
We’ve
found coloring pages of interest at Campdenwood’s website. This site offers images of the Goddess of
Rebirth, Bridged, A fairy, etc:
http://www.campdenwood.com/forkids/kidscrafts/
Here
is a lovely dragon, care of the BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/snapdragon/yesflash/colourme/dragon.shtml
These
are designed to be printed on standard printers, using 81/2 x 11 sheets. Enjoy.
I
SCREAM, YOU SCREAM:
What
would summer be without ice crème and other frozen treats?
Here
is a list of some of the best places to find gourmet ice crème in the
state.
Bon
Bonière—Arcata, Calif. The 1898 landmark on the plaza lets you savor
rotating art exhibitions while you get your kicks out of flavors like lemon
cream pie tart. (707) 822-6388.
Mondo
Gelato—Berkeley, Calif. Cranberry muesli is for the health nut,
Ferrero Rocher chocolate hazelnut is for the indulgent. (510) 883-1568,
www.mondogelato.com
Mashti
Malone's—Los Angeles. The shamrock on this Iranian ice cream parlor,
formerly an Irish bar, is nearly as classic as the Hollywood sign. Try their
rosewater ice cream. (323) 874-0144, www.mashti.com.
Rick's
Ice Cream—Palo Alto, Calif. At this 1956 creamery, customers are
sweet on the kulfi, laced with a bouquet of Indian aromatics from saffron
and rose to almond and cardamom. (650) 493-6553.
Mitchell's Ice Cream—San Francisco. Folks have flocked to the Mission
District creamery since 1953. Philippine flavors like ube (purple yam) and
macapuno (coconut) round out the traditional. (415) 648-2300.
Polly Ann—San Francisco. The more than 500 flavors include ginseng, oolong
tea, durian, and others inspired by the city's Asian cultures. (415)
664-2472, www.pollyann.com.
If
you have a favorite ice crème or dessert hang out, write to us and we will
include it in the next newsletter.
INSTITUTE
FOR FEMINISM AND RELIGION:
The
Institute for Feminism and Religion aims to explore a prophetic approach to
feminism and religion, inclusive of many traditions and emerging consciousness
in Ireland. They provide opportunities for women to reclaim religion and focus
on feminist theology, ethics, spirituality and ritual.
More
information can be found at their website: http://instituteforfeminismandreligion.org/
GUUJAAW
Many
people in the Earthwise community are working to blend their creative lives
with their work and their spiritual practice.
Giindajin Haawasti Guujaaw is an example to us all. He is a musician, carpenter, dancer, singer, activist, historian
& artist. He lives in Canada and is best known as "Guujaaw is of
the Raven clan of the Haida Nation".
http://www.haidagwaii.net/mcd/Bio.html
A gallery of his carving can be found here: http://www.haidagwaii.net/mcd/Gallery.html
Check out the Raven mask.
THE
HISTORY OF EVERYDAY THINGS: LEATHERWORK AND DIAPERS:
“Primitive people who lived during the Ice Age some 500,000 years
ago, were likely the first to use the skins of animals to protect their bodies
from the elements. Just as leather today is a byproduct, our ancient ancestors
hunted animals primarily for food, but once they had eaten the meat, they would
clean the skin by scraping off the flesh and then sling it over their shoulders
as a crude form of a coat.”
For more information on the history of leather and leather work
from pre-history to the 19th century, go to:
http://www.leathertown.com/info_hist_leather.htm
“Infants have been
"wrapped in swaddling bands" in many European societies since
antiquity. Swaddling bands were strips of linen or wool that were wrapped
tightly around each limb and then crosswise around the body (like many Yoga
advocates still do in India). In Elizabethan times, babies were
treated to a fresh diaper only every few days. Innuits, an Eskimo
people, placed moss under sealskin.”
For more information
on the history of the diaper, go to: http://www.gpoabs.com.mx/cricher/history.htm
CATS’ EYES:
“Although
cats themselves are neither superstitious nor religious, they have attracted
more than their fair share of folklore, and been closely associated with both
gods and demons. The cat's characteristic, ever-changing eyes are behind much
of this mystique. The ancient Egyptians believed that the nocturnal gleam in
the eye of a cat was a ray of sunshine, and symbolized the sun god, Ra, who
exuded light even in the darkness of the underworld. Celtic tradition held that
cats' eyes were a portal to another world. WB Yeats wrote that the cat was
"the nearest kin of the moon", adding, "Does Minnaloushe know
that his pupils will pass from change to change, and that from round to
crescent, from crescent to round they range?"
“Well,
no. Minnaloushe doesn't know that - but lots of other people had noted that
cats' eyes change like the moon and the sun. Consequently, the cat became
associated with the ebb and flow of time. In China, cats were used as a
timepiece - although not, obviously, as a wristwatch. Cats have also been used
to predict tides.”
To
read the rest of this article, go to:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,3605,985392,00.html
GOTHIC
AND NATIVE GARDENING:
Something
Wicked This Way Grows: A Guide to Gothic Gardening
This
wonderful website offers a Gothic Herbal, Gothic plant tales, and articles on
gothic sundial mottoes and butterfly gardening for Goths. It’s great fun and the site is well built.
Enjoy: http://www.gothic.net/~malice/
The
Growing Native website has information on finding and growing native
California plants. These plants use
less water and thus save money and they are good for the birds and
butterflies. Native species are loosing
vital habitat in California. They can
use all the help they can get. If you
plant a native plant garden, you will offer sanctuary to birds and butterflies.
The
articles in this website are about native California plants, landscaping and
California plant care, gardening and tips on plant ecology. They carry
information about specific California native plants, by plant community, and
tell the personal experience of people who have been successful in creating
beautiful landscaping and California gardens and/or have knowledge of special
aspects of plant care and the wholeness of a healthy ecology.
Annie’s
Annuals is a local plant farm that specializes in growing and
providing native and unique annuals to nurseries in California.
Check
out their website for information on these plants and for a list of where to
buy them in California.
LADYBUG
LORE:
“The ladybug is a beloved insect on two counts. First, it is
colorful in a very stylish and happy way. After all, who doesn't notice black
polka dots on bright-red wing cases? Second, it saves our vegetable gardens and
rose bushes from the scourge of aphids and other pests.
No other six-legged creature (with the possible exception of
the butterfly) has inspired as many good feelings and superstitions as the
ladybug. Here are but a few of these superstitions along with a favorite
nursery rhyme. This site also contains Ladybug History and a Ladybug quiz.
To read more of this article, go to:
http://www.parkhere.org/channel/0,4770,chid%253D195493%2526sid%253D12761,00.html
3-D
MODELING AND STONE AGE ART:
”3-D modeling at the University of Warwick is set to revolutionize
how we learn about history by digitally recreating archaeological sites and
ancient monuments around the Kilmartin Valley, Argyle, Scotland’s most
spectacular and richest prehistoric landscape.”
To read the rest of this article, go to:
http://www.newsandevents.warwick.ac.uk/index.cfm?page=pressrelease&id=1002
DOG PLAY:
Here is a fun website, which offers information on “neat things to
do with your dog”: http://www.dog-play.com/. It has also has some great links for Dog
Lovers living in California.
This website is built and maintained by a local attorney who uses
her legal skills on behalf of dogs and our natural environment.
FUTURE OF WILDNERNESS AREAS:
“In the late 1990s, the federal government
decided the area might qualify for the highest level of protection available to
public lands: designation as a wilderness area.
Now, under a new administration, the
government has changed its mind and this land is caught up in a heated
controversy over the future of wilderness in America.
At the center is a new Bush administration
policy, disclosed recently as part of a legal settlement with Utah, that calls
for the Bureau of Land Management to stop assessing its land holdings to
determine if they might be classified as wilderness in the future.”
To read more of this article, go to:
http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/6028727.htm
Full Circle is a non-profit group and as such has no official
opinion on politics. Nevertheless, we
urge our members to become informed and active citizens and to make their
voices heard:
Here is a list of your State and Federal Representatives courtesy
of the League of Women Voters website for California:
http://ca.lwv.org/lwvc/edfund/repwho/index.html
If you care, make it known.
STRESS REDUCTION AND HEALTH
“When
Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., started the Stress Reduction and Relaxation Program as a
pilot project at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center (now UMass
Memorial Medical Center) in 1979, he wondered if people would come to a
stress-reduction program based on the principles and practices of Buddhist
meditation. “After 20 years and 11,000 medical patients, I think it’s fair to
say that the program has struck a certain chord,” says Kabat-Zinn.”
To
read more of this article, go to:
http://www.hippocrates.com/archive/July2000/07departments/07integrative.html
EVENTS
OF INTEREST:
We
currently have hundreds of events listed on our California Community Calendar:
http://www.fullcircleevents.org/calendar/
Here
are a few:
·
Renaissance
Faires (various)
·
Shakespeare
Santa Cruz season
·
World
Music Festival
·
RJ
Stewart workshop
·
A
Strauss Festival
·
Garlic
Festival
·
Herb
Festival
·
Yemaya
Beach Day
·
Annual
Mountain Meet
·
Scottish
Games
·
Harvest
Day for Gardeners
·
Harry
Potter Night
and
there are lots more. New events are
added every day.
Click
on http://www.fullcircleevents.org/calendar/
to access a list of on-going and dated events through-out the year.
Do
you want your event listed? Then please go to our calendar
page and click on the link that says “Submit Event”. The on-line form is simple and very easy to
use. If you have any questions, please
contact our Networking Coordinator ScoutGhost at ScoutGhst@aol.com.
THE
SHADOW KNOWS:
Carolyn
Myss writes in her book, Sacred Contracts, that all great teachers teach
the 3 C’s; that is: Consciousness, Choices & Cause and Effect.
Whether the teacher is at a dojo or showing how us to care for our car or
offering a class in Earthwise Spirituality, they are teaching the three C’s as
these pertain to their field of knowledge.
For example, my mechanic wants me to be conscious of my car’s needs, to
realize what happens if I don’t take care of my car and to make right choices
(such as changing my oil in good time).
Spiritual teachers work with the same principals.
Which
brings us to a question that often comes up in the Earthwise Community.
Why is it that there plenty of classes at levels 101 to 303 but no
classes or books that seem to go past level 3?
I believe that those
classes do indeed exist. I think
that they have little do with ritual, clothing, holidays, spells, books or
tools and everything to do with personal growth. These classes are not offered by a Priest or Priestess, except
where they teach by example. Instead,
Life itself offers us these classes. In
a Trickster-like fashion, it offers us the test first and the lesson
afterward. If we survive the lesson, we
will have reached the next level.
The
challenge here involves claiming our power, living responsibly and accepting
the consequences of our choices.
Some
people are drawn mainly to the toys, the costumes and the fun involved in our
path. Some of them are, sad to say, in full flight from adulthood. They want unicorns and moon beams and money
spells. They like to think of
themselves as rebels and tend to have a “look at me” attitude towards their
practice. There is less rebel and more
faddist in their make-up than they know.
For
some people, becoming fully conscious of their own emotional baggage, dealing
with their Shadow Sides, owning their own strength and power, and living as
joyful and responsible beings sounds like too much work. As a result, they rarely move beyond the
lower levels in their practice (unless, of course, life gives them a really
rough push.) All too often, though,
they sense how much work it is to move forward and they switch paths or
partners or do whatever it takes to avoid the pain of growth.
Myss
claims we need to confront our Shadow Selves in order to grow and move
forward. She sees the journey as one in
which each of us is the Co-Creator of our Highest Good. I
have noted some of the Shadow archetypes she lists in her book, below. In the interest of balance, I have included
what I consider to be, the Positive Companions to these Shadow Sides, as
well.
The
Prostitute: This is the side of us that that will do anything to insure
love, acceptance, financial security, or safety. This applies to body, mind and
spirit. The question here is: What does it take to make us sell our
Self?
The
Companion to the Prostitute is the Priest or Priestess; that part which supports,
appreciates and protects us. This
Companion speaks for our Highest Good.
The Victim: This part feels
perpetually wronged or misunderstood.
This part is often angry and resentful. If we unconsciously get
"points" for our suffering, then we then slip into a Martyred path,
as well.
The
Companion to the Victim is the Peaceful Warrior; think of Aragorn in the Lord
of the Rings. The Warrior is that part of us which is strong, capable,
loving and wise. It has the courage to make difficult choices and to embrace
change.
The Saboteur: This is how we get in
our own way. This part makes sure that
we do not have balance and it keeps us too busy, too tired, too overworked or
too stressed to pay conscious attention to our life. The Saboteur is
involved when we do not feed our selves in healthy ways and it puts the needs
of others above our own needs.
The
companion to this is the Wise Parent.
The Wise Parent works in the light of the conscious self and helps us to
make healthy choices. The Wise Parent is
that part of us that is loving and patient and kind. This part cares for us in ways we may not have been cared for as
children. We may be better at caring
for others and fail in being a Wise Parent to ourselves. If we never had a Wise Parent modeled for us
in real life then we have had to create our Wise Parent from scratch and this
is no easy task.
The
Wounded Child: The Wounded Child feels unworthy of love. This child
is shame based, has abandonment issues and feels that there is nothing they can
do to fix their life. This part feels
unworthy of attention. At the same
time, the Wounded Child is angry for the lack of attention of others.
This part lives in fear and has a great need for safety. The Wounded Child has
difficulty with intimacy as a result.
The
Companion to this archetype is the Magical Child, that part which is healthy
and intact and who we were always meant to be.
The Magical Child is not selfish or childish, as some would have it, but
is creative, active and in touch with our Highest Good. Knowing the Magical Child does not preclude
behaving like an adult. When we see
folks “acting out”, what we see is the Wounded Child in action.
Shadow
Sides do their best work in the dark of our unconscious. The more we avoid and ignore them, the more
power we give to them.
As
I have shown, each of these Shadow archetypes has a healthy Companion. Together they form a sort of spiral, a
double helix, of sorts; one in which each part of our character has both a
positive and negative aspect. To be
conscious then, is to know these sides of our character; strengths and
weaknesses alike, and to make the best choices we can.
Myss
writes that these Shadow archetypes are neutral. They are not out to get us, but they are there to teach us a
lesson. If we choose to make right
choices, the Laws of Cause and Effect and the Laws of Energy and Attraction
will support our healthy sides. If we
allow our Shadow archetypes to make our choices, then we choose to learn our
lessons through them.
Over
the years, I have seen another set of character traits in action. These effect our community in various
ways. This archetypal set is what I
call the Bard and the Poser.
The
strength of the Bard is that of brilliant storyteller, learned advocate,
truthful historian, imaginative teacher, wise counselor and creative
artist. From songwriters to
programmers, within groups and as solitaries, our people use this Companion
Archetype to create in many ways and forms.
They inspire others to reach for their fullest potential and they show
us how to tap into our creative being.
The
Bard archetype is honorable, trustworthy and truthful. This Companion has the necessary talents and
skills to perform well on a variety of Life’s stages. When in effect, the Bard
shows our community to best advantage.
The
Shadow Side of the Bard is the Poser, the Con Artist, and the Liar. This Shadow re-writes our personal and
collective history so that we always appear to be wiser, kinder and greater
than we really are. This part likes to put the blame for our bad behavior on
the other person, on circumstance or on the culture at large. It tends to give us far too much credit for
what we have accomplished and is not grateful to those who have helped along
the way.
Where
the Bard sees abundance, the Poser sees lack.
Where the Bard offers friendship, the Poser uses people. The Poser is that part that excuses,
rationalizes, evades, forgets, and denies.
The
Bard takes pride in work well done.
This side knows it takes effort, training, practice, polishing,
reworking and learning in order to create.
The Bard sees both the big picture and the details and knows that life
and art are best defined as works in progress.
A true Bard is always willing to learn from others who are more skilled
and experienced than they are. The Bard
is original, the Poser copies. What a
Bard creates, a Poser steals.
The
Bard strives towards excellence and honors it in others. The Poser is only concerned with showing
off. The Poser has an ego like a gouty
toe and can only see others as mirrors that reflects their image, thus this
archetype's dependence on the opinions of others. The Poser cannot take criticism of any kind, no matter how well
informed, positive or helpful it may be.
The
Poser is full of envy for the skills and the gifts that others possess but is
unwilling to do what it takes to obtain those skills or to earn respect. The Bard wants to learn; the Poser wants to
appear learned. The Bard knows that it
takes hard work to achieve a goal. The
Poser wants to wear the laurels before the race even begins. The Bard wishes to earn the respect of peers
and is not concerned with the opinions of the crowd. The Poser is more concerned with looking good than in being
good.
The
Bard knows an essential truth about Earthwise Spirituality. It’s this: “If our word is no good in
this world, then it is no good in the Other World” (1). The Poser cannot tell the truth without
embellishment or lies directly. The
Poser re-writes history to make itself look like the Hero, and its word cannot
be trusted. The Poser has no real
power, in either world, as a result.
When
a Bard suffers a setback, this part knows that it must learn from mistakes and
move forward. The Poser does not know
the difference between making a mistake and being a mistake. Rather than learn from mistakes, this part
simply tries to hide them. A Poser
prefers to stay in a rut and whines to all who will listen. The Bard has learned compassion and moves
forward with new strength and wisdom.
Over
the years, I've watched our community struggle with the Bard and the Poser as
we interact with each other and with the outside world. These two sides come forward most often when
we write our history, teach, form Circles or attempt to organize. The Bard brings us together, the Poser tears
us apart.
The
key to avoiding the Poser lies in being honest about our motives, our abilities
and our history. Telling our truth and
listening to the truth that others might tell us can both hurt and heal. It’s
risky, it’s humbling and it’s very difficult.
It can cost us friends and it can mean we have to say “I’m sorry”. Not telling our truth or lying to make
ourselves look good or to keep those friends, keeps us stuck in a dysfunctional
tar pit of resentment, denial and ill feeling. It’s much better to deal with the muck and the mess and to pull
ourselves free of it while we can.
Remember
this: there are always three truths to any conflict: Yours, the other person’s
and the real deal. You won’t get up
and out to the greater truth, without knowing the other two. You can try climbing out, using only your
truth as a support, but it’s like trying to climb a ladder with only one side. Sooner or later, you’ll slip and fall back
into the muck.
Ultimately,
what we learn from telling the truth and acknowledging these archetypes is up
to us. Thus the need for a spiritual
practice that teaches Consciousness, Choices and Cause and Effect.
A
lovely example of this comes to us in Terry Pratchett's latest children’s book
titled Wee Free Men. A witch
named Miss Tick gives a young girl named Tiffany some free advice:
“Are
you listening?”
“Yes,”
said Tiffany.
“Good.
Now…if you trust in yourself…”
”Yes?”
“…and
follow your star…” Miss Tick went on.
‘Yes?”
“…you’ll
still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and
learning things and weren’t so lazy.
Good-bye.”
Wishing
us all the courage to look at our Shadow sides and the wisdom to make healthy
choices,
Sia
http://www.fullcircleevents.org
Honor
the Past, Celebrate the Present, Create the Future
(1)
This quote comes from a Librarian Bard named Rowan Fairgrove