September 26, 2009

Just to Clarify: Ile Orunmila Oshun Temple Service will be this SUNDAY, September 27th from 11am to 12pm. (We are so excited, we got confused about dates) :)

September 25, 2009

Ile Orunmila Oshun Services, Sun. 9/27


Members of Ile Orunmila Oshun (Temple of Luisah Teish in the Yoruba tradition of Orisha worship) will be gathering at TSW this Saturday, 9/27 at 11 AM to conduct their monthly Temple Service. This month's service is in honor of Aganju, Father of the Volcanos.

Temple service provides a space for friends and members of Ile Orunmila Oshun and our wider community to learn about the Orisha and worship together. Each month has teaching on a different topic.

To the Yoruba, as is true for most indigenous traditions, the ancestors play a vital role in the health and well being of the community. As we near the Fall season, we honor our ancestors for guiding, protecting and nurturing our spirits and homes. This temple service will focus on the role of the egungun masqueraders and their role in village life. Please bring a picture of a revered ancestor or an object that symbolizes your ancestors to put on the altar.

Join us for a powerful, practical service that will help you better navigate the volcanic activity of change that this time of year brings us all.

September 10, 2009

Mercury Retrograde Re-flections

Mercury retrograde happens multiple times a year, and every time I hear about someone's car issues, computer issues, travel missteps and lots and lots of arguments.

But does it have to be that way? Whether or not you buy the basic premise of astrology, you still can see that the idea of confusion can do a lot to actually confuse things. Someone asked me today what I was doing to hold it together during this current retrograde. My answer was something to the effect of: "I try to communicate clearly, and if that doesn't work, I try to be patient, and if that doesn't work I try not to scream too loudly." I realized that I had chosen to carry pocket stones for bravery, groundedness, and comfort (tiger eye, garnet and pink calcite, FYI). I knew I needed the help, but I didn't know that I knew, you know?

So, I'm not sure where I heard this, but Retrograde times for me are all about the "Re-". Re-think, Re-view, Re-hash, Re-evaluate. I hold this "backwards" time as a space to go over my priorities, commitments and plans. I study the things I ought to already know. I call friends I haven't spoken to in a while. I hope that my business emails are clear and that my blog entries aren't too rambling.

"In fact, isn't that Mercury-retrograde's job… to buy us a few additional moments (or weeks) to make sure we've got it how we want it before the final version goes to print or the opening-night curtain slides open?"--Astrobarry (from his Taurus horoscope this week; read his full article on current astro-happenings here: http://www.astrobarry.com/2009/sep609.php.)

What do YOU do to make Mercury Retrograde livable? How do you ride the wave of astro-confusion?

Best of the backwards energy to all,
Iris