Greetings to all Full Circle
friends and members,
In this September edition of
our newsletter we have:
One of the joys of being
Council Leader at FCE is that I sometimes get the opportunity to match the
right person to the right job. As is so
often the case, the right person comes along when he or she is needed; I just
need to keep my eyes, ears and heart open so that I can recognize them when
they come along. In this case, the
right person came along in the form of a literate, witty and talented gal who,
as it happens, is a writer. Funny thing, that; I was just looking for one of
those.
For some time now, I have
wanted to hand over the reins of this newsletter to someone I could trust. The Full Circle newsletter continues to grow
and it currently reaches over 1,200 Pagan families throughout California and
beyond (including members living in Ireland, England and Australia). Since this is the public voice of Full
Circle, we needed someone who was ethical and responsible, passionate about
sharing information and very good at networking. If he/she was a good punster and a better writer than me, so much
the better. I am happy to say that we
have found that person in the form of a Pagan woman who is very active in our
community.
She and I took our time
deciding this. I first thought of her
for this position back in spring and I offered her the job in late July of this
year. After many frank and pleasant
phone meetings and after long discussions about everything from chocolate to
cheese (not to mention ethics and standards), she accepted. It is now my pleasure to introduce you all
to SnakeMoon, our new Editor-In-Chief for the Full Circle Newsletter.
I will let her bio speak for
itself:
In 6th grade,
SnakeMoon wrote a report on the lost continent of Atlantis and followed that up
the next year with a paper on the history of witchcraft. By 9th grade she was scribbling
pages on the use of magic in Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream and The
Tempest. (This stuff shows up early,
doesn’t it?) Once she decided to use
her magical writing skills for good and not for evil, it was a short path to
working on the Full Circle Newsletter, a publication she has long admired.
SnakeMoon has been a practicing
Pagan for nearly 16 years. She is the
newest member of a woman’s coven now celebrating its 13th year, and
has participated in other circles, including EarthRite, a Marin county
community that performs public celebrations of the Wheel of the Year.
SnakeMoon is the Director of Communications
for a forward-thinking industrial design firm, and previously worked as a
communications consultant for a variety of clients across the Unites
States. She lives in San Anselmo with
her 16-year-old son, two cats, and a corn snake named Magic.
I first met SnakeMoon ten years
ago. At that time, she was conducting
eclectic, creative meetings for women in Palo Alto. These featured a reading circle, a discussion forum and a ritual
group; a combination I had not encountered before. We have since worked together both as professionals at a
technology company in Silicon Valley and as Pagan Priestesses. At one point, years ago, we offered a joint
workshop (mine) and a ritual (hers) at PantheaCon. This is an experience I remember as both powerful and
positive. I have found through working
with her that SnakeMoon is a ritual designer of great skill and
imagination. She is also a very funny
lady.
SnakeMoon moved to Marin County
several years ago and we have stayed in touch. She has often proved to be a wise counselor both to me,
personally, and to us here at Full Circle and I count her as someone I can go
to for advice on things both practical and mystical. Over the years, we have shared books, laughter and many, many
stories. When it came time to hand over
the newsletter, she was the first person I thought of. I think that our members will come to
appreciate her warm hearted, broad-minded perspective, as I do.
This September’s newsletter is
filled with her writing and insights and it will be that way from now on. I will continue to send her interesting
websites as a find them and I will contribute the odd essay, now and then, but
the newsletter is now her baby. I feel
confident that she will take it to new and interesting places and that it will
grow and improve under her care.
Thank you, SnakeMoon, for
taking the lead and for serving the community in this way. It is not easy for a busy professional, a
full time mom and an active coven member to volunteer for yet another time
consuming task. We here at Full Circle
appreciate your willingness to do so and we are happy to hand over the “talking
stick” and give the Full Circle’s newsletter into your very capable hands.
Best Wishes,
Sia
It’s hot, it’s
clear, and there are a million stars in the sky. Welcome to the Dog Days of summer. Why dog days? Space.com
has the answer in an interesting article about
Sirius (for all you Potter-ites, we’re talking about the Dog Star, not Black):
“Despite how hot
it might be where you live, the Dog Days just came to an official end. Everyone
talks about "dog days of summer," but few know what the expression
means. You might be surprised to learn
the story behind the phrase.”
And
on those dog days, when it’s too hot for little ones to go outside, a visit from
the flower fairies might be just the thing.
A bestseller in the popular Flower Fairies series, The
Flower Fairies Activity Book
includes pictures to color, craft activities, puzzles, and even paper dolls and
doll clothes.
And if you’d
like to hear Jennifer Berezan, joined by more than 50 incredible musicians,
singers, dancers, poets and ritualists in an encore performance of
"Praises for The World,” tickets are now on sale. Special guests include Wilma Mankiller (first
female Chef of the Cherokee Nation), Eve Ensler (playwright and author of the Vagina
Monologues), Luisah Teish, Dan Brigade, Vicki Noble, and many others.
Visit the website
for more information or to
buy tickets for this November concert.
“Banned
Books Week 2003 is the twenty-second annual celebration of the freedom to
read. This freedom, not only to choose what we read but also to select from a
full array of possibilities, is firmly rooted in the First Amendment to the
U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of press.
Even as we revel in the increasing quantity and availability of information and
reading material, we must maintain vigilance to assure that access to this
material is preserved. Threats against the freedom to read still exist and come
from all quarters and all political persuasions. Quite simply, censors are
those who try to limit the freedom of others to choose what they read, see, or
hear, even if the motivation for the restriction is well-intentioned.”
Teachers and bookstore owners can
get “Banned Books” kits from the Banned
Books web site.
Yup, it does sometimes seem
lately as if the US constitution—and many of the freedoms guaranteed in it—have
been getting poked and prodded just a bit. However, the Constitution has its
rabid watchdog, in the person of Judge Andrew Napolitano. Napolitano is a political commentator on Fox
News who’s made it his job to keep an eye—his, and the public’s—on the
Constitution, and especially the Bill of Rights. A quote from the article:
A month after the September 11
terrorist attacks, Judge Napolitano wrote in the New Jersey Law Journal:
"In a democracy, personal liberties are rarely diminished overnight.
Rather, they are lost gradually, by acts of well-meaning people, with good
intentions, amid public approval. But the subtle loss of freedom is never
recognized until the crisis is over and we look back in horror. And then it is
too late."
Ever wanted to
learn to live closer to the land, build a strawbale house, or understand how
indigenous peoples can survive in the wild without an entire kit from REI? Thomas
J. Elpel's Hollowtop
Outdoor Primitive School can teach you about primitive technology and
sustainable living. (Don’t miss the
section on edible insects!)
For another take on creating
enduring buildings and preserving traditional building techniques, visit the Traditional Building web site. The website has been created by
the editors of TRADITIONAL BUILDING, a magazine focused on restoring and
renovating old buildings as well as for designing and constructing new
buildings in traditional styles.
Ah. The sheer bliss that is “cat.” No less an observer than Leonardo Da Vinci
once stated unequivocally that “The smallest feline is a masterpiece.”
All right, I confess, we
have a new kitten. The house is filled
with a joie de vivre that humans can barely fathom, much less match. Running, jumping, hopping, leaping
vertically into the air, a kitten is enthusiasm made flesh.
Cats, however, are a bit
more contemplative and fit for a quiet, monastic life—particular during the Dark
Ages, when times were tough and plague diminished the number of available
laps. Or so says the Guardian. Read the article and try to imagine little
Patch or Mittens with a tonsure or wimple…
At a garden
party recently, I found myself in the odd position of defending wasps. While many people want to whack them, my
suggestion for dealing with pesky beggars dive-bombing picnic plates is simple:
treat them like invited guests. Make a
plate for them, and be sure to include a small bit of everything you’re
having. (If you bring out something new
later, add it to the plate as well).
Once you’ve got the “wasp plate,” place it at a distance from the
two-legged diners, where the wasps can nibble in peace. Frankly, they’d much rather eat without all
that swatting going on, and once they’re occupied, they won’t be bother you!
For those of
you who just don’t want to risk it, the people at EarthEasy.com, have a
few more conventional suggestions for natural wasp control
ELECTIONS AND
VOTER REGISTRATION:
October 7th, 2003 is
a special statewide
election.
Voter registration is an activity permitted under law to
Churches and tax-exempt organizations, as long as it is non-partisan in nature. You and
your group can register voters, as long as you follow the rules put down by the
state of California.
Other groups are registering voters
at their places of worship. The
Earthwise community has the same right to organize voter registration. If you are a Pagan Organizer, consider
providing Voter
registration cards at your next event.
Please Note: Full Circle supports the freedom of
religion and the separation of church and state. As a group, therefore, we have no opinion on political issues. At
the same time, we urge our members to become informed and active citizens.
EVENTS OF INTEREST
September 13th is Pagan
Pride Day. Celebrations will occur
all over the U.S. and in other countries.
This is a time when Pagans come out of the Broom Closet and celebrate
their right to freedom of speech and religion. It is also a time when
people gather together with those of different faiths to honor peace,
tolerance and friendship.
If you can make it to a Pagan Pride Event in your area,
please do so. Pagans and their friends
will be wearing purple ribbons and/or symbols of their spiritual practice on
that day.
A list of Pagan Pride and other events of interest in
California can be found at our Community Calendar.
Fall
Equinox is September 23rd and the traditional Harvest Moon
will come early this year.
We currently have hundreds of
events listed on our California
Community Calendar:
Here are a few:
And there are lots more. New events are added every day. Click on the Full Circle California
Community Calendar to access a list of on-going and dated events throughout
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 Wheel of the Year turns,
the corn grows plump on the stalks, fat tomatoes burden the vine, and all manner
of squash swarm over backyards throughout California. Soon it will be time for harvest celebrations in the US and
Europe.
A little over a hundred years ago, most people made
what they needed and traded—often at seasonal fairs—for the things they couldn’t
manufacture themselves. Materials were
constantly recycled, and most people, by the time they reached their early
teens, could feed, cloth, and house themselves if necessary. Harvest fairs offered an opportunity to
share and exchange goods, learn new skills, and recognize the resources that
lived within the community.
When he was younger, my son
attended an elementary school in Palo Alto that actually had a working farm on
the school grounds. Each class had an
assigned plot of land for planting, and each took turns feeding and caring for
the livestock that lived on the farm.
The best part of the farm’s year was the Harvest
Faire, which of course included the standard booths for mask making and beanbag
tossing. But this fair acknowledged its
lineage with a few more traditional crafts.
For example, one family hosted a papermaking booth, where children could
learn about the critical role of the rag picker in the manufacture of paper. (Rag pickers collected bits of linen and
cotton that would become shredded and pressed into rolls of foolscap.) Another mother led the children in combing
and carding hair from the sheep and the rabbit, which she would then spin into
slender threads that could be knitted or woven. The school also owned an apple press, and families blessed with
apple trees would bring baskets of ripe fruit to make a fresh, bright-tasting
cider for the whole school to enjoy.
Harvest festivals like this—and the handcrafts they
spotlight—are making a comeback, as more people return to traditional
activities as quilting and woodworking. Even if you’ve only got a kitchen table and a
couple of opposable thumbs, it’s possible to indulge in the pleasures of
handcrafts by making Sculpy
figurines and goddess
sculptures, harvest themed buttons, or even corn
dollies. And don’t forget that
all-important talent: pie making!
September.
The leaves are dry, the heat shimmers off the sidewalks, and nights turn
cool and wet with thunderstorms.
Daylight comes later and leaves earlier, like a cautious guest trying
not to overstay her welcome. Soon it will be the Fall
Equinox, Mabon, the time of balance.
For years—starting when my son entered
kindergarten—I used to arrive at Mabon slightly overwhelmed: flustered from
dealing with the start of another school year (egad!), whining about the
receding light, and wondering how I can honor this baffling turn of the seasons
in a way that has meaning for me. I
struggled to straddle the twin contradictions of Mabon: a rich harvest time,
the promise of earthly abundance fulfilled in every roadside produce stand …
yet outside my window, the world around me is dry and dying, the hills yellow
with lifeless grass, the naked ladies withering in the yard. Mabon just felt like a “non-event” to me. I also arrived at Mabon ravenous, hoping
someone will have a party and feed me some fresh berry pie and perhaps a slice
of watermelon…
A few years ago, I hit upon a simple harvest
tradition that has (delightfully) spread throughout my life, making me feel
more connected with those whose lives revolved around the vicissitudes of
agriculture. It started with a Mabon
potluck, when the hostess commanded that we “bring that was in season RIGHT
NOW!” Heck, as a city girl (actually,
more of a suburban girl) and one of the truly gardening impaired, I had no
frame of reference for this and was forced to spend some quality time with the
produce guy at my local market. But in
the end, I brought a lovely corn chowder to the gathering.
Eating seasonally—a simple idea, yes? But to me this tiny step felt somehow
revolutionary, a genuine acknowledgement of what the turn of the seasons has
meant to every animal on this planet since time began: the ebb and flow of
dining options. Mabon means “winter
is a comin’, eat up so you can make it to spring.”
From that potluck it was a short step to concocting
traditional Wheel of the Year meals (my family now has a favorite Lammas dish
called “Jam Jamboree,” after Bruce Deegan’s delightful book Jamberry). I still remember the first time I
consciously put down a tomato, realizing that this plump red fruit doesn’t grow
here in January. Very subtly, I started
favoring the just plucked over delicacies imported from the southern
hemisphere. Very slowly, I noticed my
appetite changing: salads in the spring time; fruit and berries and nuts all
summer long; corn and yams and bread in the fall; and heavy, potato-and-butter
laden meals in the dead of winter. I
watched as I gained 5 pounds every October, no matter what I did to prevent it,
and lost that same weight every May, with no effort. (Now, the eggnog and chocolate Santa pounds sometimes took a bit
longer to get rid of…)
Mind you, I’m not a zealot about this and if you
invite me to dine, you won’t get a 20-minute lecture on the provenance of your
foodstuffs (unlike my more fanatical friends, who won’t eat the Parmesan until
they know the parentage of the cow).
Heck, I can’t even resolve the troublesome banana issue. For me, this is just a simple, low-key
“noticing” practice—just pay attention to the shifting offerings at the market,
and listen to my body as it gets every so slightly more in synch with the
seasons.
Lately my body has been saying “Cold mornings. Blackberries on the bramble. Isn’t Mabon just around the corner?”
In Balance at the Equinox,
SnakeMoon
Honor the Past, Celebrate the
Present, Create the Future
With contributions from: Sia,
Captain Lightning, Wren