Gaian Tarot Artist's Journal

Registration now open for PSG

I'm attending Pagan Spirit Gathering for the first time ever this summer, and — lucky me! — I'm one of the presenters.  Craig will be performing an acoustic set, too.  I'm looking forward to this experience — my mermaid sister Nora has been trying to get me to go for years.  And now it's finally happening.  Will any of you, dear blog readers, be there too?

End of the week Bindweed Musings

As the past week unfolded, the lessons of the Bindweed card became clear to me on a number of levels.  I have mused more than once in these pages about strategies for keeping oneself calm, centered and at peace even in the midst of troubling or dramatic events.  Darned if this same theme didn't emerge again this week.

Because that's what it's all about in the end — how to stay calm, peaceful and even joyful when it seems like the whole world is crashing in on you.  This week brought resolution to two major issues in our lives — long term tenants moved into our island home (I am so happy to have an extended island family living there) and the Victorian house that Craig rehabbed finally sold after a year on the market. (We won't break out the champagne until escrow closes, but things are looking very good.)  So there's an end to supporting three houses, which has been a major financial drain this past year, and even more importantly an end to the specter of foreclosure.

Mermaids on Retreat: Photos & Doodle-Sketches

Last weekend, I traveled with my mermaid sisters to Orcas Island for our annual Imbolc/Brigids Day retreat. We are a circle of women who first gathered together during the Goddess classes I taught in the 90's. They went on to complete the priestess training program I created. I have long since stepped down as "leader" and am glad to be one of a circle of equals. I have many other dear friends locally and around the country — but there is something very special about sharing your soul with a group of women that you have known intimately in sacred space for nearly fifteen years.

We spent most of the weekend talking and listening, cooking and eating, walking and laughing. This year we chose topics for our rounds — Health, Finances, Work/Career, Relationships, Spiritual Path, What We Care About the Most. And at the end, we set goals for the coming year. We would go around the circle by topic and each woman had a chance to speak as briefly or as long as she liked about that issue in her life. Then the rest jumped in with feedback or questions. The process becomes a cauldron for self-discovery and reflection, and I believe we all emerge from the Retreat with new energy and new clarity about our lives.

Oh, are you wondering why we call ourselves Mermaids? I wrote about that here, a few years back.

I opened a new sketchbook and sat and doodle-sketched throughout the weekend. I'm sharing some of those doodle sketches here. Please, be kind! These are not even remotely polished like my professional work. They are done solely for my own pleasure. It's pretty fun though, how I've managed to capture the essence or attitude of the mermaid sisters through a few simple lines.

Blessed be.

Waiting

If you've been following me on Twitter or Facebook, you know that I flew to southern California on Friday to be with my mother's family during a time of crisis.  My elderly cousin has been missing since last Tuesday under suspicious circumstances.  After running through my own emotions of shock, disbelief, rage, horror and grief, I moved into a place of calm purposefulness.  I'm here in support of my cousin whose mother is missing.  I'm grounding all the swirling, complex emotions flying all around.  I'm making sure we eat good food, keep hydrated, get out into the fresh air, get some exercise, breathe deep.  I'm finding homeopathic sleep aides.  I'm doing my best to stay grounded and centered myself.  

I'll be here for the next few days.  If anyone feels so inclined, we would deeply appreciate your prayers or focused attention for my cousin to be found; for resolution, for justice, for peace.   Thank you.

Advent-of-the-Sun Calendar: Solstice Day!

And on Solstice Day, my true love sent to me . . .

A song & slideshow from our family to yours.

Click here to play a Quicktime movie (high res version) or click here for the YouTube version.

“In the Deep Midwinter” performed by Craig Olson

Music by Gustav Holst (1906)

Lyrics by Christina Rossetti (1872), revised by Craig Olson (2006)

Photography Credits:

Snow scenes by Catherine Kerr and Joanna Powell Colbert

Interior scenes by Paul Bingman, Chele Eva Armstrong and Joanna Powell Colbert

Lucia Party 2008

My friend Helen Farias started the tradition of Lucia Parties back in the 80's, and my circle sisters and I hosted them continually since 1997.  The last 8 parties were held at Heron House on the island. This year, we rented a beautiful Victorian mansion in downtown Bellingham.  A good time was had by all, although many people left early because of the blizzard that swept in halfway through.  After a harrowing drive home on icy hills, a few of us continued the party into the wee hours, then rose Sunday morning to a blanket of snow.  The hostesses & overnight guests gathered for brunch at Rainbow Cottage and we spent a day of "time out of time."  Our hearts are full and grateful.

I uploaded photos to my Flickr account here.

Advent of the Sun

Many years ago, my friend Helen Farias (founder of the original Beltane Papers in the early 80's) started a tradition she called "Advent of the Sun." Borrowing from the church tradition (who have borrowed so many pagan traditions over the years), she gathered friends together on each of the four Sun-Days before Solstice.  We lit candles on the Advent wreath, told stories of the sun's return, ate Christmas cookies and imbibed in exotic drinks like peppermint schnapps and hot toddies.  She wrote a few original Solstice stories and gathered up some recipes, then sold packets called The Advent Sunwheel.  You can still buy her packet from our friend Waverly Fitzgerald's School of the Seasons website.  Helen's story "The Ice Ship" is one of my all-time favorite Yuletide stories, and never fails to make me cry.

Waverly writes about the way she celebrates Advent here, and we can all join with Beth Owl'sDaughter as she turns the Solstice Sun Wheel into a global prayer-spell.   Beth writes about the intention for this ceremony:

"Let our intention be that we will shine with the Light of understanding and truth. Let our Light awaken what is best in our human family and help us to restore wisdom, honor, balance, beauty, and good will among all beings. Let the Light guide our hearts and hands to act for the healing of our Mother Earth."

Gratitude begets Gratitude, Hope begets Hope

 

Yesterday when I sent out my newsletter, I included the gift of a print-quality download of my best-selling print, the Star.  I just wanted to say thank you to my subscribers, especially those who have been following my work for years now.   Within a couple of hours, Jaspenelle sent me this photo.  She had already printed it, framed it, and put it on her altar.  How cool is that?

Make History

All Soul's Night

 

Last night our friends gathered to honor the changing tide and to remember our loved ones now on the other side of the veil.  We built this altar for our ancestors.  Isn't it beautiful?  Thanks to Chele for such a gorgeous photo (click on it to see a larger version.)

Earlier in the day, Betsy and I set up little shrines along the loop trail in our woodsy backyard.  Craig raked the leaves, laid out rope lights along the path and sprinkled sand on slippery flagstones.  Deb & Michael brought torches, and those were lit at each station, to illuminate the shrines.  Even though we live in semi-suburbia, our third-acre lot backs up to five acres of woods and the mountain beyond. So after nightfall, it was quite dark, isolated and very magical.  

A light rain and breeze rustled up the leaves. After singing chants inside the house, we walked in procession outside, carrying candles and offerings.  Humming "when we are gone, they will remain; earth and wind, fire and rain . . . "  we stopped at each shrine to offer a stone, a shell, a necklace, a bit of chocolate, a handful of nuts.  Honoring the spirits of the land and the spirits of our Beloved Dead who hovered oh so close, a whisper on the wind.