Classes and Events Starting in March!

"I never let my schooling get in the way of my education." ~ Mark Twain

The Sacred Well is offering many new classes starting soon! Call or stop by for more details, and to sign up... Healing Share led by Dragonfly & Iris Thursday, March 5, 8:00-9:30pm (Our first healing share was wonderful! Please note the later time.) $5-10 suggested donation This group is for Reiki practitioners, energy healers, Vortex wizards, hands-on-healers, and anyone else with positive energy and a healer's heart. This group meets the first Thursday of each month. Join Dragonfly and Iris as they guide you through simple meditation and self-healing techniques; designed to center, ground and repair the physical, emotional and spiritual / etheric bodies. Numerology 101: Principles of the Unknown taught by Akiva Satnarayan Two Fridays, March 6th and 13th, 7:00-9:00pm $75 Learn how to look at your numbers, working with your challenges and gifts, working toward liberation beyond your numeric imprint. What the next six months will bring in? Business, money and healing, make bold decisions, step out! This two-part workshop (two consecutive weeks) will offer basic understanding of Tantric numerology and the 10 bodies of energy. Learning the fundamentals of numeric assessment, creating your numeric chart; figuring out where you are at in terms of life purpose, finances, and relationship. During class we will examine participants' numbers and learn how to figure out the connection value between people, based on their numeric imprint. By the 2nd portion of this class you will know how to assess, your own numbers as well as have the ability to create a basic chart for others. "Who are we? Why are we here? and what is our life purpose?" are some of the fundamental questions to build a base of trust and intuition. About Akiva: Akiva (Sat Narayan) is an intuitive reader using numerology, kabbala and tarot. Trained in both Tantric and Kabbalistic based numerology, as well as a variety of body and mind healing modalities, he uses these tools to help others heal, grow comfortably into their souls, and gain the insight needed to make powerful choices in their lives. Numerology is a science based on planetary imprints and numbers. It provides parameters for evaluating challenges and opportunities in different phases of life. It's an effective tool to expand our potential in the world and tap into our life purpose. "I am inspired to encourage others to tap into the unknown and feel their power and grace in any given circumstances and challenge." For more info, visit www.satnarayan.com/numerology.html. Opening Reception: Interpretations of the Tarot art by David P. Simmons Saturday, March 7, 6:00 -8:00pm (show runs February 22-April 4) Come see these beautiful and unique images inspired by tarot cards, and meet the artist. David P. Simmons was born in New York, NY, and began painting in the 1970s. He stopped in 1982 when he moved to the Bay Area. David rediscovered his passion for art in 1998, and since his recent retirement from the Social Security Administration after 25 years, he has moved more into his artwork full time. His goal with this show is to draw the viewer into the unique world of each painting. Craft Night Wednesday, March 18, 7:00 -8:00pm free to all Are you a "Stitch Witch"? Bring your knitting, needlepoint, and crochet projects or whatever else! This group meets the third Wednesday of each month to show off their work, share tips and techniques, and just to be creative in a community setting. No expertise required, just come ready to make beautiful things and have fun! Spellwork Classes with Rabbit Rabbit's Series of Spellwork Classes starts this Sunday, with a few spaces still available. Come and learn secrets of magic from an experienced High Priestess and Magician! Herbs for Prosperity taught by Rabbit Sunday, March 15, 3:00 -5:00pm $35 Cultivating your Inner Wisdom with Healing Sounds taught by Abigail Turner Thursday, March 19, 7:00 -9:00pm $35 Learn how to tune into your natural vibratory state by using the healing potential of you everyday speaking voice. Notice the subtle and extreme differences of using sound to bring greater awareness to your inner wisdom and physical environment. We will explore a basic understanding of cymatics in relation to the physical form and emotional component of entrainment. Discover practical and easy-to-use methods of harmonizing your experiences into healing sounds. Learn easy techniques to build a conscious and more compassionate relationship with yourself and others through sound. About Abigail Turner: "Since 1999, I have worked as a facilitator for the healing potential found within all of us. Through using clear, compassionate intention, I work with channeled vocal sounds and chants, Reiki (Universal Life Force Energy), and an array of intuitive abilities to harmonize with the vibrations present in a person's subtle energy field and physical form. By giving "voice" to a person's specific energetic frequency, by intuitively matching the vibrations present for them, an opportunity is created for any "stuck" vibrations to shift. During this "shift," I have found that the natural healing ability within the person is enhanced, and greater clarity about a person's past and present life merge into a space of greater consciousness... clearing the way for greater personal and planetary transformation." For more info, visit www.healingtheluminousbody.com. Emerging Earth: Making the Most of these Transitioning Times taught by Craig Bowman, Ph.D. Thursday, March 26, 7:00 -9:00pm $25 Dr. Craig Bowman will present his extensive research integrating contemporary channeled material and its central claim that we are experiencing an evolutionary leap in our collective awareness and the beginning of a new era. You will understand why we have unprecedented access to our Higher Selves and ability to magically cocreate our reality with divine flow. Included are powerful exercises to integrate your Interdimensional Being and to create harmony across many areas of your life. Assistance arrives from your spirit guides, the angelic realm, ascended masters (hierarchy of light), causal plane entities, and other benevolent and highly evolved beings of consciousness and light! About Craig: "Craig Bowman works as a transpersonal coach and provides individual consultations and classes. He is the author of a soon-to-be published book, Emerging Earth: The Revealed Philosophy on the Evolution of Consciousness (SUNY Press). He's earned a PhD and M in east-West psychology from the California Institute of integral Studies and an MSW from Michigan state university." For more info, visit www.bowmancraig.com.

Even my parents call me Mulder...

Recently, Ninette and I have been Netflix-ing episodes of The X-Files, and indulging our inner Conspiracy Theorists. We love stuff like that, as I am sure many of you do, too.

So, the thing about watching the X-Files is that it sort of seeps into your system. We call one another "Scully" and "Mulder" and such. (You guess who is who!) Last week, Ninette's boss called her, and she accidentally thought it was me. Ninette answered, "Hi Spooky!" and then there was much explaining to do...

Today we're standing at the counter like two pigeons on a wire, chatting about the day's events thus far. Ninette ate half a cantaloupe for breakfast this morning and she is in a good mood. I am wearing a comfortable outfit, except my pants are having Mercury Retrograde and untied themselves and almost fell down this morning. You know, we discuss important stuff. Ninette mentioned that the other night she had a dream where someone was driving her around in a green Fiat. I was kind of blown away, because today when I drove up to the store, there was a green Fiat parked outside. Our Conspiracy Theorist antennae went up. Hmmm...then we began to allow ourselves to imaginate.

Ninette, "You know, that blue tow truck is always parked over across the street on Tuesdays, blocking my view of the Lake."

Me: "It might be a surveillance vehicle. but then again, it's so open, with windows and everything. If it were truly for surveillance it would be a white van."

N: "They don't use vans for surveillance. It would be too obvious."

Me: "Mulder was in a van for surveillance."

N: "No he wasn't."

Me: "Yes he was. Remember when they closed down the X-Files and he was in that van eating sunflower seeds?"

N: "Oh yeah, you're right!... That makes you a real geek."

Me: "Yep."

(Silence for a minute. We shift our gaze back to the blue truck blocking the Lake. A white van suddenly pulls away from a parking spot in front of the store.)

Me: "Our cover has been blown. I repeat, our cover has been blown. Abort Mission. ABORT MISSION!"

Endless fun at TSW. You should come down and have some laughs with us today.

It's a new day, America!

This morning, with tears streaming down our cheeks, sipping tea, Ninette and I watched the inauguration of Barack Obama. So happy about this.

Someone once told me that for a Buddhist, a perfect day is the balance of 10,000 joys and 10,000 sorrows. I thought about how Pres. Obama must have felt this morning, knowing that he is currently at the height of his dream, and simultaneously has never before been in more dangerous territory. Above and beyond his personal service to this nation, he is also asking us to take responsibility for this nation's service to the world. He wants us to start at home, and broaden our compassion out farther than many of us have ever stretched it before. He wants us to think big and act big, even in the smallest towns. Listening to his speech this morning was like a metta practice: start with self, expand to those you love, expand to those you don't love or know, expand to the entire world, then step back inwards.

And his beautiful family- totally and completely behind him in, even to step foot onto the stages and place themselves at risk for the sake of the mission. Brave women, all of them.

Today, at TSW, we are starting a spell for the Obama family's safety, for positive change with this term, and for Pres. Obama to stay true to his ideals in the face of pressure and adversity and challenge. If you'd like to add your own voice to the mix, come on down and add your written intention, blessing, or seal to place on our altar to a better future for all.

Happy new year!

OK, it's a little late. I should probably be saying "Happy Inauguration!" (and we ARE SO happy about it!)

But, here is a question: did you make new year's resolutions this year? What were they?

Mine were manifold. I build a lot of bulk into my resolutions. I usually align them along themes. Two years ago, it was the Charge of the Star Goddess- I aligned my resolutions under the categories of beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and pride, mirth and reverence. Last year, I aligned them along the 5 elements: Air was inspiration, Fire was combustion, Water was compassion, and Earth was integration. Then, I basically "file" all my practical, physical resolutions under those categories.

This year, I am working with a 7-branched World Tree theme - in accordance with Siberian mythology of the Goddess Ayyyhyt-Khotun, who sits in the 7-branched world tree and writes in a great golden book all the fates of every creature born on Earth. Big job. In my resolutions, each branch of the tree represents a different arena of my life, and then the actual practical resolutions fall under those. So, for example, under the branch of "Spiritual Growth" I have resolved to become a better spiritual practitioner and HPS of my coven by studying Buddhist communities and learning to adapt some of their metholodologies to a pagan conext that will help us be a strong community in CAYA. I also have my ongoing study of shamanism there, as well as deepening my meditation practice. Under the branch of "Prosperity" I have resolved to work toward the greater prosperity of The Sacred Well, and my own practice, and also to help CAYA achieve some financial goals. And so forth.

So, what are your resolutions?

Merry Christma-Hanu-Rama-Solsti-Kwanzakkah! Um, Happy Festivous?

Today is an American Sabbat. Whether you celebrate the religious Christian aspect of it or not, today is definitely a holiday. Banks are closed, doesn't that automatically make it a holiday?

So, as an American Sabbat, here is what I perceive Christmas is all about: family, multicultural foods, and commerce.

Family: Everywhere you go, you are offered wishes for "you and yours." At the holidays, you start to hear names of peoples' family members that you never hear mentioned the rest of the year. And this is the most expensive and hectic travel time of the year, yet bazillions of people still make the pilgrimage to see family they may not have seen all year...or for years and years. Lots of forgiveness happens at this time of year in families. AND, sometimes familes choose to utilize this time of year to re-up their negative patterns as well. Nevertheless, however we choose to engage with our families, this is the time of year to do it.

Multicultural foods: At this time of the year, the diverse palate of this nation really shines. I wander down the aisles of any kind of market, big or small, and see delicacies that I never see the rest of the year: plum puddings and stollens and tamales (well, OK, you can get those anytime, but they are really big right now), and sausages of exotic provenance- many of the blood variety. We truly get to see how varied the tastes are among the different cultures that live here. Even as you read this, my family in New York is enjoying pierogies, a Polish dumpling stuffed with little sweet and savory morsels. Each year we get them from St. John's Church, frozen by the dozen. A club of Polish ladies in the church makes them as a fundraiser- about 17,000 of them. It must be an exceedingly lucrative fundraiser. Of course, you have to be picky about your labor. My dad says you have to have the right kind of thumbs to be able to make pierogies- the short and stubby thumbs of Polish women are the only ones that will do the job correctly. My mom says she'll save some in the deep freeze for when I come visit in January. I hope my dad doesn't find them. I told her to mark them "green beans."

Commerce: OK, I have one thing to say here - Christmas is a better stimulus for the economy than any bailout. The sheer shopping-ness of this holiday helps many businesses stay open througout the rest of the year. I saw an article in a newspaper (can't remember which one) that was talking about how this year, due to budgetary constraints, people really wanted to give gifts that were personal and had meaning. Something that maybe cost little but meant a lot. You know what that translated into? Good business for small businesses like ours. Sure, we feel the pinch right now like everyone else, but peoples' committment to meaningful gifts this year drove a lot of traffic through our doors. And we were really happy to oblige with some awesome, handmade, local, unique, and inspiring items. It was fun to help people find that perfect thing on a budget of any size. It was a blessing to see how many people are starting to turn their families and loved ones on to the crystal and stone magic, the tarot cards, and other tools for spiritual work. A Sabbat of commerce, and one that is good for the little guys like us.

So ya know what? These are things to feel good about. They make up an American Sabbat that I can get behind. They are small tokens of esteem for a nation that, despite hardship, is working things out. Whether you're Christian or pagan or anything else, think about the lines from this extremely pagan-sounding carol, from our family at The Sacred Well to yours:

"Through the years we all will be together
if the Fates allow.
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
and have yourself a Merry little Christmas now."

His name is Theron - a true story experienced by Rha

His name is Theron. In a city where homeless and pan handling is as common as the trash which decorates the streets, he is a soul that often gets over looked and blends into the backdrop of the city. From the time I exited the Powell Bart station the cries and solicitation for change bombarded my ears. I pretended not to hear the pleas for spare change and when they were in my line of sight I turned my head to avoid making contact. I’m a generous person but for some reason I was not compelled to aid any of these souls who populated the streets with near empty cups weighted down by only a few coins. I sympathized with their struggle but felt no desire to help their situation. I kept moving. I was trying to get to Rassella’s in time to see my friend and her Jazz class perform.

I arrived early. I sat quietly at the bar with a black journal filled with my poetry/rhymes and abstract illustrations which have become my signature style. A glass of Anchor Steam Beer and a shot of whiskey with no ice accompanied me as I silently let the black ink of my pen find paths on the blank white page illuminated by the dimly lit atmosphere of the bar. My friend hadn’t expected anyone to show up and was pleasantly surprised to see me sitting at the bar as she rolled in with her classmates. She was even more surprised when my cousin and his finance arrived to support her too. The concert was cool. The class performed Stevie Wonder jams. Everyone loves Stevie!

After the performance I went to the Safeway parking lot and smoked with my home girl and 2 of her friends who I met for the first time that night. We felt close as if we have been homies for years. I commented on how good it felt that I was able to share this time and space with them and how scenes like this are what people go to the movies to see or open books to read. We we’re living what I felt was a scene from a movie only this was no movie. It was a beautiful moment happening in the Now. As I expressed how grateful I was to be a part of it we headed back to Rassella’s. I was in the back of the group and when I turned the corner I heard a voice coming from the street asking for change. This time I heard and listened. I stopped as my companions headed back to the spot. It was at this moment where I felt like I was guided and no longer had control over what was happening to me. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my pocket notebook which serves as my wallet and turned to the page where my money was. There were a bunch of 1 dollar bills but my fingers reached for the five and placed it in his cup.

His eyes lit up and a sound of appreciation and amazement escaped his lips. He stood up and took a few seconds trying to figure out how to express what he was feeling. I could see him searching for words or a response to accurately show his appreciation until he said “thank you” and “God bless you.” I walked towards him and said he was welcome and that “the Universe wants me to tell you that you are loved. You are supported and loved brother.” His eyes opened and the windows into his soul was revealed. I hugged him in a deep embrace and reassured him that he was loved and I placed my hand on his heart to remind him. I asked him his name and he said Theron. I told him that I would not forget him. I told him my name and when I heard him say “Rha” over and over with that glow in his face I felt that sensation of feeling at one with all existence. In his face I saw my reflection, in his face I saw the reflection of my younger brother Tavon and I saw the reflection of that Supreme Being that many call God. We embraced for a while and had a silent communication. Giving and receiving became One. Stranger and friend became One. He and I became One.

When I walked away I felt my spirit slowly trying to integrate back into my body. I was exhausted and my heart was beating fiercely. My hands were shaking. One of the girls walked to me and held my hand. I didn’t recognize her at first because I was still out of body. When I got back to Rassella’s I stood quietly to myself trying to process what just happened. My eyes started to tear as the live music and lounge atmosphere dissolved around me. When we left the joint Theron was gone. At least we thought so until we turned the corner and he was sitting on a bench eating a Subway sandwich. He wasn’t a junkie or trying to get boozes. This brother was just trying to eat. He stood up again and we embraced again. As we parted he said my name over and over with nodding head movements of approval and gratitude. I was grateful to him because I received more from that encounter than the $5 bill I presented him with. Life is amazing. All is full of Love.

Rha

11.17.08

A PR Perfecta Trifecta

Today was a great triple play of PR for The Sacred Well, Rabbit, and Come As You Are Coven. We were all mentioned in a story in the San Francisco Chronicle, here.

I think the reporter, Susan Fornoff, did a great job of capturing the twisting, diverse threads of the pagan mythos in an easy-to-digest format. She weft a web of info that demonstrated both the deep magic and the wry humor of the pagan community. I also appreciated that there was no mention of, "Are you a good witch or a bad witch?" in this article. That question gets old. Molly Blue Dawn offers my favorite quip, "I am an excellent witch."

Seriously, many thanks to Susan and to the staff and editors of The San Francisco Chronicle for offering the local pagan community such a wonderful opportunity to advance the cultural consciousness around Earth-based traditions.