Kintsugi Dancing

Kintsugi (金継ぎ^?) (Japanese: golden joinery) or Kintsukuroi (金繕い^?) (Japanese: golden repair) is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum  ...  As a philosophy it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise. 




I'm currently in the midst of two group expressions and experiences of going into the darkness with the Goddess. This is the time of year for this passage. As any time of groping around in a dark passage, what I find is evidence of brokenness. Evidence that reveals how the broken pieces have healed and rejoined is also tangible in that darkness.

Finding it embedded deep within reminded me of the Japanese art of Kintsugi, joining broken pieces with elements of powdered precious metals to make art out of brokenness. That's what I am: art with visible broken places and shiny scars exposing the unique beauty of how I have healed.... and how much has returned to wholeness.

In the midst of these visions and memories, I am awestruck by the difference in my outlook. It's easier to accept my flaws, to embrace the healing and to let go of the wounding arrows. I'm by no means perfect, inside or out. What I am is reunited. What I am is reformed. What I am is released. It's always my choice as to how I walk in this world, whether I twist and bend to hide the broken places or dance fully revealed and let the scars show that piece of who I am.

What about you? How do you walk in this world? Do you let your brokenness show? What pieces do you keep hidden? Are you aware of your own beauty? How does that awareness define your movement?

Mama Killa

If you'd like a Goddess with strength to help you stay the course, try Mama Killa (yes, that's really her name). She's the third deity in the Inca pantheon after Inti (Sun god and husband) and Illapu (Thunder god), though in some coastal communities, She was considered stronger and more vital than the others. As Mother Moon, She regulated women's menstrual cycles and childbirth. She provided shelter, understanding and support to women; in return, they venerated Her.

One myth of Mama Killa was about the Moon's 'dark spots' or lunar craters. Once a fox fell in love with the amazing beauty of Mama Killa and rose into the sky to be with Her. When he came close, she squeezed him against her, creating the dark patches visible on the bright moon's surface.

Lunar eclipses were believed to be a mountain lion or a serpent attacking and attempting to devour Mama Killa and leave the night world in darkness. The Incas would throw weapons and make great noises to scare the creature away.

Goddesses operate from a very different strength than Gods do. Many Goddesses rely less on their physical prowess and show care for the people. Mama Killa took especial care of women in the Inca community. Showing that kind of care over time means that She is capable of guiding and staying the course under any kind of conditions ~ especially when changes occur.

How do you plan to 'stay the course' through any coming changes? How can myths guide you through them? Why would a Goddess be an ally for you? Who else could be one?

Brigid's Day

Today is a dual celebration day ~~ two celebrations that have been married into one ~~ Imbolc and St. Brigid's Day.

Brigid is one of those fascinating crossover personalities ~ between the Pagan world and the Christian world. In the Pagan world, she's Goddess of the hearth, metallurgy, healing, writing and childbirth. In the Christian world, she's a saint; a real girl, baptized by St. Patrick, eventually taking the veil and founding a monastery at Kildare.

Over the years, the two traditions have claimed Her and played a game of tug-of-war over who and what She was and is. Even so, the consensus showed the focus of her powers or abilities to be nearly the same.

Much of those attributes came from the testimonies of the women who believed in Her, whether Pagan or Christian. Their common traditions linked them closely to Her and to each other. I find much of that same camaraderie alive today. Women of all faiths, with respect and constancy, continue to share their Goddesses and Saints. They see the commonality and move forward with that in mind and in place. Their acceptance of each other's practices surprises most people around them, often including family. There's much still to be learned about sharing across faiths and religions. I call upon Brigid and her holy fire to continue the teaching!

What is your reaction to sharing across religions? Have you participated in shared rites or rituals? How did that feel? Would you be willing to participate in them?

Samhain's Thinning Veil

http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs20/i/2009/278/9/3/Samhain_Goddess_by_ArwensGrace.jpg

Samhain is the autumnal finale when the veils between the worlds are at their thinnest. What makes this holy season, this particular turning off the wheel, an opening between Life and Death, between Light and Dark?

Each of the Quarters and Cross-Quarters on the Wheel brings the worlds of this present reality and another more ethereal reality closer together. Midwinter or Yule brings a season of elves and merry-making to drive away the Dark and celebrate the Return of the Light. Imbolc is the first planting, the coming of the 'milk' when the young are conceived and born. Ostara reveals more of the Light and coming Life, when we recognize the fertility in the greening of the world around us. Beltane begins the summer flowering and the fairies. Midsummer or Litha brings the fair winds and weather, the height of Light and fullness. Lammas, the Loaf Mass, is the first harvest, the time of baking bread and bringing in grain.
Mabon is the height of the harvest, the autumnal balance of Light and Dark.

Which returns the cycle to Samhain, the end of the harvest season and beginning of the fallow time. The veil thins as Light slips away, leaves fall from deciduous trees, food-bearing and flowering plants growing above ground wither and die or slumber. Only the root plants have any chance of continuing after this, and even they will be gone soon. Often with the first frost comes the first illnesses. Fall begins "cold and flu season" when we see a rise of immune vulnerability. The days are grayer, more dismal. Shadows lengthen even during the daylight hours.

In many cultures, this is the time to remember those who have passed from this world into the next, to honor the ancestors who have left this physical reality, but have left behind their collective wisdom.

This is the season I love most. The thinner veils suit my Scorpio Moon well. Over time, I've learned to  traverse the worlds during this passage of time. Though it can be a dangerous place to wander, it brings much knowledge and wisdom. As I've gleaned that harvest, the greater instruction has been to pass on what I learn, to recognize that I am an instrument to bring that information into this present reality.

How do you feel about this time of year? What is your favorite part of this season? In what time of year do you feel most comfortable? most happy? Why?

Venus Chasing Luna, part 2

There is much of the Goddess of Love in this time of year as we enter Sol in Libra. Venus rules Libra. She is all about relationships and balance.

As I watched Her continuing to watch and chase Luna another day or two, I knew She understood the challenge faced. I pondered what Venus could or would do.

Venus Chasing Luna

Venus returns to the Court of the Divine. She is distracted by what She has seen ~~ and by Her unspoken promise to help. She struggles with deciding what to do.
On the one hand, She is the Goddess of Love. As such, She is often called upon to help lovers. The supplications are generally from one of the lovers and not the other. She rarely intercedes. It is Her policy to only affect a relationship where both lovers approach Her with the same request. In this case, neither lover requested Her assistance.
On the other hand, She is aware that Jupiter has chosen to keep the two lovers apart. He wanted Luna for Himself ~ as He does with many beautiful women and goddesses. Luna was not interested in Him. When He pursued Her, He discovered She was seeing ~ and in love with ~ Sol. Her unavailability only made Her more desirable to Him. Luna continued to shun Him. In anger, Jupiter devised a way to separate the two lovers. Since He ruled the skies, He put Sol in charge of lighting the day and Luna lighting the night. When one was fully in the sky, the other could not be. From what She saw, that did not keep the lovers from loving each other, only from being together.
Venus smiled at Aurora as She approached. A plan was beginning to form.... maybe there was a way.....

Have you ever offered help to someone without being asked? Why did you do it? What was the result? How did you feel about making the offer?

Eostre ~ Goddess of Change

How Eostre Became the Goddess of Spring

©2014 by Mary-Lynne Monroe

http://www.skylightpublishing.com/gullylir/artha-about.jpg

Many, many moons ago ~ more full moons past than have ever been counted ~ the gods and goddesses quarreled over who should be honored at the turning of the seasons. Clearly, there were fewer turnings than deities.

As another turning approached, tempers flared ~ the arguments brightening the sun, melting the snow, warming the earth. Grass grew taller and greener. Flowers poked their colorful heads out through their leaves. Rivers burbled faster. Yet the arguing gods and goddesses barely noticed, so entirely wrapped in their arguments were they.

Zeus electrified the air with his lightning bolt. Thor's hammer thundered a retort. Kali spewed roiling lava over the land. Yemaya's surf pounded a tattoo in response. Every god and every goddess vied for acknowledgement, position and power. Their dueling responses signaled the coming season: Spring, when everything is grander and more colorfully explosive than any other season.

Weaving through the gathered crowd of immortals was Eostre, a goddess new to the Divine City, inexperienced with the ways of the gods and goddesses as they quarreled. Hair shimmering like spun silver, she listened attentively and quietly to the noise and chatter around her. In the midst of the other dazzling divine, her appearance though beautiful was unremarkable. Absorbing the view of the marketplace with its stalls of fruit, bread and other wares overflowing their baskets and tables, she found the abundance nearly overwhelming.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Eostre_.jpg

In the midst of the hubbub, she moved unnoticed. She herself, however, saw everything. Small creatures darted in and out among the feet and legs on the path. Her deep violet eyes missed not a one. Anyone watching as she passed the final table and crossed the threshold out of the City and into the surrounding woodland would have seen Eostre begin to shrink. Soon she was the size of a rabbit doe ~ then she was the shape of the doe, as she made her way deeper into the woods.

Once Eostre was deep within the woods, she stopped to rest in some underbrush beneath a tree at the edge of a small clearing. Recognizing the holy difference of Eostre even in the form of a doe, other rabbits hopped over to be near her. Birds flew to branches over her. Flowers and leaves turned in her direction as if seeking out the sun. Deer, badgers, squirrels and other denizens of the forest slowly filled the clearing near her.

Unknown to Eostre, the Moon goddess Artemis had followed her. Thinking she was alone with her woodland friends, Eostre shifted her form back to human. No animal ran. No bird flew away. No leaf turned away. All remained quietly in the clearing, focusing on the Goddess of Change. Artemis, watching this shift and aware of the honor bestowed on Eostre, stepped forward herself into the clearing. Instantly, every creature startled and fled.

Eostre herself startled at the sight of the Goddess of the Hunt. She too wanted to flee, but knew there was nowhere to go where Artemis could not follow.

"Why have you followed me?" she asked.

"Your youth and beauty attracted me. You appear as my Maidens do: strong, self-aware, mindful. If I hadn't watched you shape-shift, I would have lost you."

"That was my purpose: to be lost."

"Why?"

"All the anger and fighting wear me down. This is the season of joy, creativity, love, birth and growth. How can all that negativity call forth an honoree for a season of beauty and positivity?"

Artemis paused, leaning on her long huntress bow, and smiled.

"Will you return to the City with me?" she asked. "I believe we have found our Spring honoree."

"I will spend tonight in this wood, Artemis," Eostre responded. "You have frightened the creatures of the wood with your huntress ways. I will see them calm before I return."

"As you wish," Artemis responded. "As tonight is the Full Moon, it is my place to be in the night sky. I will be in the City again in the morning. Will you meet me at the gate by which you left?"

"Yes," she promised. "I will be there shortly after dawn."

As Artemis in her form of the Full Moon moved through the night sky, she looked down on the glade to see all the creatures again gathered around Eostre. The nocturnal creatures were awake; the diurnal creatures were asleep. All were at peace.

The next morning, Eostre entered the gate to the Divine City with Artemis at her side. As they moved through the streets of the City, arguments and conversations stopped. All heads turned toward the two goddesses.

When they arrived at the central square, Artemis took Eostre by the hand and led her to the fountain. The two goddesses stood side by side as all the gods and goddesses gathered. In the quiet, birds twittered in the nearby trees, frogs croaked in the fountain, dogs and cats walked through the legs of those gathered and laid down around the fountain. The movement and sound of these creatures did not escape the notice of the gathering deities.

Artemis raised her voice and said, "My sisters and brothers, yesterday as the Huntress I followed this radiant goddess into the woods, expecting to find her alone. But I did not find her so. She was in a clearing surrounded by every woodland creature ~ walkers, creepers, crawlers, fliers, jumpers, all of them. Even the flowers and plants were aware of her presence. Their devotion was keen."

She turned toward Eostre. "She spoke of the joy and beauty of this Spring season. From my place in the sky as the Full Moon, I saw her. Throughout the night, the fauna and flora of the forest continued to honor her. I believe she is our Goddess of Spring."

As one, the gods and goddesses raised their voices in approval. The dogs howled, the cats purred, the frogs sang, the insects buzzed. Every living thing agreed.

That is how Eostre became the Goddess of the Spring turning ~ and on the Full Moon!

St. Patrick's Day 2014

http://www.jimfitzpatrick.com/

The legend of St. Patrick contains the story and image of him driving the snakes out of Ireland. Although snakes were not prevalent in Ireland when Patrick lived there, the myth remains. Many speculate about the persistence of and reasoning behind that particular element of his myth. My personal favorite: Many cultures connect snakes with the Goddess. Since a snake sheds its skin without dying, it is also considered a symbol of regeneration.

The image to the left is Eriu, the eponymous matron Goddess of Ireland, one of three Goddesses who ruled Ireland together. Eriu is considered Goddess of Sovereignty.

That particular assignation left me smiling. My blooming theme for Lent this year is related to sovereignty: autonomy, choice, responsibility. Although I didn't go in search of this Goddess ~~ or know Her story when I found Her ~~ I know She will reveal more about the reason She appeared in my life at this time. She is strong, powerful, balanced ~~ all qualities fitting my Lenten theme.

Who shows up in your life for St. Patrick's Day? What does s/he reveal to you about yourself? about your path? Who does s/he encourage you to become?