Gaian Tarot Artist's Journal

St Lucia Party 2009

It is our favorite party of the year, when we gather with beloved friends and family to honor St Lucia, the Lightbringer "who heralds the imminent Return of the Sun," as my friend Helen Farias wrote on her party invitations back in the day.  Helen, who was the original founder and editor of the Beltane Papers, started the Lucia Party back in the 80's.  I read about them in TBP when I lived in California and was utterly charmed. I was honored to be invited to Helen's parties once I moved to the Northwest. Helen died of breast cancer in 1994, and we could not bear to celebrate again for a couple of years. In 1997, St Lucia's Day (December 13th) fell on a Saturday and it was a Full Moon to boot. How could we not celebrate?  Craig and I, along with the Circle of Stella Maris (our mermaid sisters and brothers) have been hosting the party each year ever since.  

This is the first Lucia Party in Rainbow Cottage, which is about half the size of Heron House on the island. It meant we had to cut the guest list way down, which is very hard to do. There were about 35-40 guests this year, which is a comfortable size. There were a few years on the island when 70 or 80 people came. We just can't manage that many people here.

I started our parties based on the traditions I remembered from Helen's parties, and of course our community added our own touches — lots of live music, since we have so many musicians among us, and ending the evening with a drum circle. We also read the poem "The Shortest Day" when we light the candle of Little Yule.  Many of the young women who have "played" St Lucy over the years grew up coming to the parties. My young friend Chloe, who was St Lucy this year, has been to our Lucia Parties almost every year of her life. 

I'm thinking about writing an e-book (for next year!) on "How to Host a St Lucia Party." Is that something any of you would be interested in?

Here's some photos from this year's party. 

Lammas at the River

Lammas is the first of the three harvests, with Autumn Equinox and Samhain (Halloween) to follow.  For me, it always carries a bittersweet feeling, especially since my dad died just before Lammas three years ago.  Summer is at its height with blazing heat, yet the leaves have already begun to fall.  The turn towards Autumn has undoubtedly begun.  

Our journey begins as we drive through farmlands and cornfields, leaving the city and suburbs far behind.

More photos after the jump.

PSG: Unplugged

Photo found here.
Craig and I returned home in the wee hours this morning from Camp Zoe, Missouri in the Ozark Mountains, where we spent nine days at Pagan Spirit Gathering. It was a true “time out of time,” a time between the worlds. Even though some people had access to the internet (though not cell phone coverage), not much news from the world beyond us trickled down. And that was just fine with me.

I discovered that I love being unplugged, both from the internet and the phone.  Nine whole days. What happens when you unplug?  It’s all about slow time, natural time, as my friend Waverly Fitzgerald so often writes about. The days at Camp Zoe were divided into sections that reminded me of medieval Hours:  Waking; Morning Meeting; Noontime Meal; Noontime Concert; Workshop 1, Workshop 2 (or, River Play Time); Evening Meal; Evening Concert; Evening Ritual; Drum/Fire Circle; Bedtime.

My Heart's Home

From the moment I drove off the ferry onto the island, I knew I was home.

No other place on the planet that I’ve ever visited has tugged on my heartstrings the way this one has.  I am relaxing into the knowledge that it is my true heart’s home and that someday I will live there again.

Epiphanies from the Readers Studio

(Note:  I started writing this blog entry last Wednesday, May 6th but didn’t finish it until today.  It’s long!)

I’m still in recovery mode from my two weeks on the road and especially from the intensity of the Readers Studio.  My body thinks it’s still on the east coast and I’m craving unhealthy foods — yes, I even started eating french fries and ketchup Sunday evening in the bar. (It’s all Thalassa’s fault. Not.)  I’ll make a green smoothie in a bit and my body will thank me for it.

Once the rain stopped, the lush Northwest landscape (the proverbial thousand shades of green) took me to its heart and wrapped me up like a patchwork comforter.  Home.

For the moment, I am not noticing all the weeding and yard cleanup that needs to be done.  Just drinking in the green.

I think this was my favorite Readers Studio of all, so far.  I had a lot of fun socializing, made a pretty penny at my merchant table, and had a number of personal epiphanies.  What more can one ask for?   (For those of you who haven’t seen my photo albums of the RS on Facebook, you can click through here:  Thursday, Friday, Sat/Sunday.

The Sun - Gaian Tarot Card of the Week

What do I most need to know about my experience at the Readers Studio?

The Sun

Now, there’s a fabulous card to pull for the coming conference.  Joy, happiness, dancing, gratitude, shining like the sun.   My roommate Julie Cuccia-Watts just pulled this card for me and I thank her for it!  It’s an especially good omen for both of us, don’t you think?

One of the things I noticed while I was in Maine was how happy I felt.  It was mostly due to being around the kids, especially Gracie.  Nothing like spending time with your grandchild to have your heart open wide like a sunflower, turning its head toward the sun. Time slowed down, too.  Everything revolved around Gracie’s schedule and there were hours when there was nothing to do but go for walks, read books, play with crayons.  I felt so blessed and grateful to have that time away from my usual packed schedule.  A clue to happiness:  living a slow, mindful life.  I’d like to bring more of that back into my life when I get home.

The more I meditate on the Sun card, the more I think its message for us is to really consider the source of our happiness.  What truly makes you happy?  What brings you joy?  How can you incorporate more of it into your life this week?

I always look forward to hearing what you have to say, dear readers.

Travels East: Maine, Brooklyn and the Readers Studio

(Photo:  Grandma Joanna & Gracie)

Last week I headed to Maine and spent several days with my son Steve, daughter-in-law Jenn and granddaughter Grace (age 15 months).  Craig came too.  We are both just totally nuts about that little girl.  We went for walks, played with crayons and read books, went to Saturday morning story time at the local library, went to playgrounds, went to a big sandy beach . . . and soon it was time to leave again.  We'll be back in the fall.  I put up lots of photos from our trip on Facebook — you should be able to see the photo album even if you're not on Facebook.  

(Photo: Joanna & Kris at the Cafe Clinton)

On Monday, Craig flew home and I headed for Brooklyn.  I visited with Kris Waldherr and Diane Saarinen.  I've known them both online for years but this was the first in-person visit.  They gave me the grand tour of their town, and what a beauty it is.  My friend Debbie Lake came over from Manhattan and joined us at Kris' gallery and studio, where we had a grand time talking art and publishing.  More photos of my Brooklyn visit here. 

Earlier today I made it over to Debbie's apartment in Midtown and shopped for a few necessities, like green juice.  And now I'm at the Newark Sheraton, sharing a room with Julie Cuccia-Watts and resting up for the big event, the Readers Studio.  The excitement is building!

Gaia, the World - Gaian Tarot Card of the Week

What do we most need to know for the coming week?

Gaia, the World

Yet another encouraging, hope-filled card for discouraging times!

It is also the third Major Arcana card I’ve pulled out of seven since I began this Card of the Week feature, a fairly high percentage. If the Majors truly represent our soul challenges, I can see how the lessons of Bindweed, the Canoe and the World are an accurate reflection of my own life right now, as well as that of the larger community.

Last night as I shuffled my deck, I looked ahead to the week to come. I was thinking mainly about my upcoming journey to the Santa Cruz mountains toward the end of the week.  I am headed there for my naming ceremony with the Sisterhood of the Silver Branch, and I am expecting an initiation into the next phase of my life, a phase of renewal.  At least that is what I am sensing. 

But my journey to the Boulder Creek / Felton / Ben Lomond area is also a “coming home” of sorts. I fell in love with that redwood-filled valley as a teenager and vowed to live there some day.  I never pulled that dream off, but as a young wife and mother living in the East Bay, I often took my boys camping at Big Basin Redwoods State Park.  I remember one camping trip in particular, when each night after dinner the four of us would gather round the fire and I would read aloud from the just-published “Mists of Avalon.”  What a magical setting in which to read such a magical book. I had just come out of a toxic decade in a fundamentalist church and was floundering for a new spiritual direction.  That book in that setting led me to the path I have walked ever since. 

Explorer of Air (Knight of Swords): Gaian Tarot Card of the Week

What do we most need to know for the coming week?

Explorer of Air (Knight of Swords)

This card reminds me of the saying “You can’t see the forest for the trees.”  In this case, it’s a matter of getting your head above the tree line to see the big picture and get a new perspective. 

Yes, I’ve been focused on many details lately.  Details in bookkeeping and taxes, details of Wordpress coding, details of looking at this or that house online and imagining what it would be like to live there.  This week I need to pull back and think about my larger life plan.  Where do the details I’m so focused on fit into the greater scheme of things?  It may be time to reflect on long term goals I’ve set for myself and see if they might be getting lost in all the details of daily life.

I’m also charmed to see all the birds in this image, in this season of Spring Awakening (although this morning, we have an inch or two of snow on the ground and the birds are quite silenced).  Listening to the birds begin the dawn chorus, or to the Steller’s jays squawking loudly at mid-day as they’ve been doing quite recently, lifts my spirits in a special way. The emerging birds are not only harbingers of the coming of Spring, but also of the renewal of our bodies and spirits.

Come, dear birds!  Come, beloved Spring!  We will lift our heads above the forest and get a glimpse of the landscape the way the winged ones see it.  May it be so.

And what does this image say to you, dear Readers?

Guardian of Water (Queen of Cups): Gaian Tarot Card of the Week

Hmmm . . . two Guardians (or Queens) two weeks in a row.  Don't you love it when patterns start to emerge?

For me, the Guardians represent a time in your life (either literally or metaphorically) when you are at midlfe, and are actively involved in your community.  You are a master of your chosen field, and you "guard" or protect the qualities and issues symbolized by the chosen suit or element.  In a life cycle, the Guardians represent the quality of fruition, which corresponds to a full or disseminating moon.

Last week the Guardian of Earth helped us to get grounded.  This week the Guardian of Water invites us to open our hearts to our dreams and visions, to compassion and to deep love.  "Pour it out for me," goes her siren song.   These are Kwan Yin's waters of mercy, poured out upon a troubled world.

This is one of my favorite images, at least in part because She represents the Ocean Mother to me.  She is that epiphany of the Goddess to whom I am most bonded.  And so, this week, I will listen for her voice in my dreams, in my intuitive hunches, in the cards, and in the sound of the waves lapping on the shore.

And what about you, dear Reader?  What does She say to you?