Day of the Doves

Two doves flew INTO The Sacred Well last Sunday.

No joke.

They were Mourning Doves, which make one of the most beautiful cooing sounds I have ever heard. "Oooo-eee-ooo-ooo-ooo." I grew up hearing that sound outside my bedroom window in the mornings. It followed me to college, where a pair of doves roosted in the eaves outside my 3rd story apartment roof.

But rarely do I hear the soft sound of Mourning Doves in this urban environment. Occasionally I see a pair at the Berkeley Marina if I go for a morning walk, but that's about it.

Last week, the planning committee for Harvest Home Magick and Music Festival (www.cayaharvesthome.com) was meeting here to hash out the schedule and plan more of the many details we are attending to. All of a sudden there was a great fluttering of wings, and in flew the doves. One flew immediately to the bookshelf and landed atop a dish of black obsidian (a message from my Ancestors, perhaps? A message of protection from Aphrodite?) The other hopelessly fluttered against the window, desperately trying to escape. I watch my friend Molly Blue Dawn lovingly cradle the bird in her bare hands and bring him to the door, where we took flight into the nearby tree. Artemisia and I then graciously ushered his mate out the door by whooshing our skirts. She stepped out into the bright sun, looked confused for a moment, then took flight as well.

I wondered about this pair later: in the crazy traffic hectic noise dirty smog bustling bodies of the city, would she find her mate? Doves do not mate for life, but they do mate monogamously for at least a single season. This partnership may continue into winter if it is promising. No guarantees are made for the following Spring.

I do hope this pair found one another, if that was what was meant to be for their common comfort and survival. Call me a romantic. Call me a Priestess of Aphrodite. I love the love story of it. It was the same day as my parents' 40th wedding anniversary. A good omen. May these doves enjoy many a long mating season, and may my folks enjoy many more joyful years to come. Biology encourages us to seek out another body to help us stay warm. We all have our struggles from time to time. Choosing to stay together for a full season, or a lifetime, involves daily practice. Rose quartz, anyone?

New Magick Festival!

If you know me, you may have heard me talk about all the fun I've had at outdoor pagan festivals back home in the Midwest. It may seem counter-intuitive, but since magicians and witches are so spread out in the middle of the country, we have even more reason to gather together as often as we can. I've attended Pagan Spirit Gathering in Ohio (now held in Missouri) and Heartland Festival (in Kansas). An interesting fact about these festivals is that they generally require you to volunteer to help out at some point during the gathering. So, even though I was going for fellowship and magick, I often found myself hauling trash and recycling, directing cars in the parking lot, or playing with kids at the daycare tent.

Even with all the work, I love camping festivals! Meeting new people, really big rituals (up to 1,000 witches in one space!), and the drumming, campfires and music! I love the idealism of living in intentional community even for a sort time!

It's true that PantheaCon is a great time, and that it's got lots of people. I will attend PCon as long as I am able. But someting about being in a hotel; no incense, no fire, no need to borrow a cookpot from a neighbor, no getting to know you chats while waiting in line for a (much needed) shower; it just doesn't do it for me.

So, knowing all that, you will understand why I am so pleased to announce to The Sacred Well community that my other spiritual community, Come As You Are Coven, is putting on our very first Harvest Home Magick and Music Festival taking place Mabon (Equinox) Weekend, September 18-20. Link and Official announcement below.
Blessed Be and Happy Camping,
--Iris

http://www.cayaharvesthome.com/26

Harvest Home Magick & Music Festival
Sept. 18, 19 & 20, 2009
Stone City Pagan Sanctuary Livermore, CA

Early registration:
$80 per adult before September 1, $40 per child under 18 (children under 3 are free)

Regular registration after 9/1:
$100 per adult, $50 per child under 18 (children under 3 still free)

You’ve been to our fabulous rituals, you’ve attended our wild ‘n wacky social events and parties…

Now, join us out in nature for the very best of what CAYA has to offer!

3 days of workshops, rituals, and musical performances by CAYA clergy and local performers, outdoors at a beautiful pagan sanctuary where magick and wonder abound! This is an opportunity for us to spend some time soaking up one another’s knowledge and talents, settling in to deep sacred space with one another, and opening our hearts, minds, and third eyes to the long-term vision of The Land! Many of you have heard us in CAYA animatedly discussing our goal of acquiring land to become a pagan retreat, sanctuary, and sustainable community. Now, it’s time to practice for that goal! Part of our vision for the Harvest Home Festival is that we all, eventually, won’t have to go home from it because we will already BE home at a sanctuary of our own. Join us to support and contribute to this vision of a refuge for weary urban pagans who need refreshment and renewal. Practice makes perfect, so why not start by joyously camping with us now?

Plus, you’ll be so glad you attended! The workshops, rituals, and performances are going to be soulful, beautiful, and inspiring. In true CAYA fashion, we’ll be offering Interfaith, eclectic rituals and workshops, so there will be something for everyone. We’ll be posting more information about these as the Committee makes its final selections in the coming weeks, so watch this spot for more information, but make sure to reserve YOUR spot at this event now.

Science of Tarot: Minor Arcana in August

Rabbit's "Science of Tarot: Minor Arcana" class
Monday Aug. 3, Tuesday Aug. 11, Monday Aug. 17, Tuesday Aug. 25
7-9:30 PM
The Sacred Well
536 Grand Ave.
Oakland, CA
$150 for 4-week class
Each week we will cover an entire suit of the Minor Arcana, aka "The Pips." Watch the stories unfold as you learn the powerfully specific messages of the Pip cards. While the Major Arcana are large-scale life choices/changes, and the Court Cards are people and physical energies, the Pips offer specific messages about day-to-day actions and possibilities. Ever wonder how a fortune teller knows you're about to take a trip, get a new job, or attend a wedding? It's all in the numbers!

Call The Sacred Well at 510-444-9355 with your credit or debit card ready to register for your place in this class. Class size is limited.

On deck:
Watch for "The Magician's Laboratory," a hands-on, practical spellcraft class with Rabbit on Wednesdays in September (9, 16, 23, 30)

Aquae Vitae Workshop 7/26

July 26
Rabbit's Roundtable: "Aquae Vitae"
The Sacred Well
536 Grand Ave
Oakland, CA
3-5 PM
$35
Rabbit's Roundtable is a monthly workshop for the beginning to advanced
student of herbalism, magic, and myth. Each month, Rabbit presents lore and
information about a different topic, followed by an opportunity to make a
potion or spell based on the days' discussion. This month, we will be
making healing waters, or "waters of life" that may be taken internally, or
used externally in baths, washes, and cleansing. Are you a mermaid? A Water
sign? An alchemist or herbalist? Do you love baths? Are you in need of
healing and change? Does your home or office need a magical cleansing? Does
your soul need to be soothed and cooled? This class will provide you with
new ways to make magical, herbal wines, tub soaks, eau de cologne, and
body/home washes. Please bring a clean glass bottle or jar with a cap or lid
for this class, at least 8 ounces or larger.

To register, call 510- 444-9355 or stop in to the Sacred Well and sign up.
Please have your credit or debit card handy to pre-pay and reserve your
spot.

Clear your calendars!

Because this weekend will be a lot of fun at The Sacred Well.
Friday night, local author and shamanic healer Mikaya Heart will be discussing her book, With the Sun in My Eyes, from 6 to 8 pm. Copies will be available for purchase (and signing!)
Saturday night, our very own Rhatura Bowden will be celebrating the opening of his art show, The Elements of Rha, with poetry, music and wine (three of our favorite things).
Sunday night, we'll be hosting our first in-store concert, with Grammy-recognized singer/songwriter Caera and her Celtic harp. What a diverse and wonderful weekend we'll be having! Come join us!

But, Iris! You may say, I wrote a magical book that the community should know about! Or, Iris! I am an artist with profound, meaningful works and no place to show them! Or perhaps, Iris! I have esoteric skills and knowledge I want to teach others! Or even, Iris! I am a musician and I want to showcase my soulful tunes in a beautiful atmosphere!

Well, you should know that The Sacred Well wants to help you with that. Our vision for The Sacred Well has always been a place where our community can come together and share knowledge and fun. If you are an artist, author, musician or teacher and you have an idea for a workshop, signing, concert or show, please contact us!

And if you are interested in attending more events like these, check out our calendar page!

My Stones are My Friends

My stones are my friends.

I take one or two along with me in my pocket, depending on what type of stone energy - whose - I want to share my day with.

They live all over my house in little dishes, just like at the store, adding their imprint to each room like each colorful character brings a certain flavor of conversation to the party. Everyone’s presence is known and appreciated.

I have so many favorites, I could barely name them all, but to even begin to detail some special personalities is a sheer joy:

*my apophyllite cluster, which looks just like the Sydney Opera House;

*my "remote control" Lemurian quartz wand, flat and ridged on one face, buzzing its wisdom into my hands;

*its cousin (both from the same Brazilian mine where all our Lemurians are from), the polished Lemurian point, with dancing rainbow strobe lights igniting its insides (I remember first unwrapping it with Iris, and telling her instantly that this one was coming home with me);

*my special "sacred seven" collection of 7 amazing danburite crystals from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, a whole family of one of my favorite crystal friends;

*of course, my ruby, the first big rock of my adult life (thank you, M), still charred with scar marks from the ’98 fire in my NYC apartment (careful with the fire element, Barry!);

*my favorite hi-vibe pair, the phenacite and the morganite (from a favorite Brazilian gemological vendor), unbelievable quality, laser-clear etheric light, and I am connected;

*the hedgehog-like cluster of scolecite needles, dotted with cube-shaped apophyllites, emissary from India’s mineral wonderland...

Now that I have The Sacred Well to channel my rock-and-crystal-loving frenzy into, I focus less on my own personal collection.

I enjoy befriending the special stones in the store, then bid them a fond farewell as they proceed on their journeys home, each with the person it was supposed to be with, who it was meant to next befriend.

Magic Helps with the Paperwork

I’m sure I’m not the only one who struggles with plowing through the paperwork.

Being the person in charge of handling all the ‘back-end’ bookkeeping, tax-filing and paperwork-processing duties at The Sacred Well, I haven’t always kept up with my end of the bargain in the timeliest of fashions.

But I decided to finally tackle the huge piles of to-dos last week... and I used the energy of the new moon to help jump-start this initiative.

To mark my intention, I lit a tall white jar candle last Monday morning, the day of the new moon. I chose white to represent the purity of my vision, to organize and clarify the financial data of the store. I dressed the candle with sage (to get rid of any negative energy attached to this work), a couple drops of our Mind Untwister elixir (to prepare my mind for detail-orientation), and some white glitter (because glitter is fun).

It burned on my altar all last week, and a HUGE amount of work got accomplished. Thank you, universe, for helping me face my paperwork demons... and to show me that the whole thing wasn’t nearly as ‘demonic’ as I’d feared. I actually enjoyed the organizational efforts.