From My Desk

The wheel has turned; the longest night has gone for another year and the Crone has passed her mantle to the Maiden. Winter solstice in the southeast corner of this great land is very different from that in the Northern Hemisphere and we have been very fortunate to have some intermittent gentle rain and many days of clear blue sky.

Regardless of our place on the earth, the winter solstice gives us an occasion to think about the turning of the wheel of life and our own cycles.

This last two weeks have held amazing opportunities for me to reflect on the cycles of life and death: I commenced a celebrant’s training program earlier in the year and last weekend was the final workshop which covered the role and responsibilities of being a funeral celebrant. At the commencement of the week we had news of the death of a friend, not totally unexpected, but when these events happen they are always a challenge; especially when the person is still young and has so much to give.

Yesterday was her funeral and I was reminded of the importance of thinking about how we want to be remembered and the celebrations that we want of and for our lives. I have heard several stories recently about Goddess Women who have not been clear about this and when they pass, their families take over and organize rituals which are inconsistent with the beliefs and values by which they lived.

We all believe that we are immortal and avoid the thought of death; and then it happens. Regardless of how I organize in advance there is going to be part of my close circle, which feels uncomfortable with the arrangements and it isn’t just about using gender inclusive language!

It is much deeper, a fundamental difference in understanding between those who are still part of the patriarchal religions and those who are committed to expressing the Divine Feminine in their lives.

So what does this mean for me? Where, what, how and who are always good places to start. Where do I want the service/celebration to be held? What do I want to have happen, the words and music? Who will be involved and how? How do I want to be remembered?

I am interested if you have had a similar set of thoughts and how you are proceeding. I would love to hear from you.

On another note the Winter Solstice celebration last Sunday was wonderful with eight new women joining us following the dedication of the labyrinth. Peta has been working on the labyrinth and her painting is creating a wonderful centre for Gaia’s Garden. We were blessed by the talents of drummers, dancers and singers and the Labyrinth is well ‘launched’.

I am constantly amazed by the groups that are seeking the Goddess, the Divine Feminine and the many and varied forms that they take. On the one hand we have the traditional pagan groups from Druid traditions going back hundreds of years, women searching for ways of expressing the feminine in traditional religions, Wiccans and those groups of women who are forging new/old traditions honouring the Goddess in Her many forms.

Either I have been out of touch over the past twenty-five years of my journey and/or there is a major increase in connection and creation. It is wonderful, inspiring and fills me with hope. This is the energy we need for the future.

And the journey continues….. Next weekend is our Journey in Gaia’s Garden with Maureen Buckley-Fox who will take us to meet the classical forms of the Goddess of ancient traditions of Greece and Rome. An added bonus is that thea Gaia is back in Melbourne and will be joining us.

Blessed Be
Tricia