Saturday, April 29, 2006 at 3:30 PM
Wylder Hall - Unitarian Universalist Church
5450 Atherton, Long Beach CA
Come celebrate Beltane with the Magdalene,
with She Who is container of the Mystery of the Two-in-One.
Come to dance in surging Fullness,
One-ness,
Wholeness;
come to dance YOUR Living Fullness.
Bring a taper to light from flame (to be blown out right away)
and take home with you,
Bring a rose, or other flower,
Bring your joy, bring your openness to joy.
Bring a noisemaker and/or snack food ad lib.
Event sponsored by Spritual Practices Committee of UUCLB.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Monday, April 03, 2006
How Fire Came to the People
For Joanne: The Beginnings, Part I
Long ago. The breath of the Goddess blew gently over the waters and the heat of the sun began to dry the land that Turtle and Duck had brought up from the ocean depths. The People went to bed with the sun, shivering in the darkness until the sun awoke again. It was hardest during the month of the long nights, when the People weren't tired but it was too dark to be up and about.
One night as the sun was going to bed over the waters, Raven perched on the top of a tree preening her beautiful white feathers. She was very proud of her plumage, and didn't like having even a drop of mud on her wings. Pausing for a moment, she overheard the People complaining about the short days, wishing the sun would leave a part of itself behind for light and warmth in the night. "What a great idea!" thought Raven. Only a small girl saw the flash of white as Raven took off from the tall cedar and flew to the West.
Raven flew a long way, stopping briefly on a small island for a drink of fresh water. She sighed as she watched a small animal scamper away from the creek, wishing there was time for dinner; but she was determined to follow through with her idea and so she flew off again.
Finally, Raven caught up with the sun and explained her plan. The sun happily obliged, taking a small bit of fire and placing it on Raven's white back, balancing it carefully so that it wouldn't interfere with her wings. Once again, Raven flew off, this time to the East, not even stopping once as she flew back into the darkness. Even though it was dark and the wind was cold, she felt a warmth from between her wingblades. She was sure she was overworking those muscles, and she would definitely be sore the next day!
She landed carefully at the foot of the cedar tree and walked slowly to where the People slept. She leaned back on her tail and the bit of the sun rolled down her back and off her tail and into a clump of dried cedar leaves. Just at that moment, a whisper of the breath of the Goddess floated down the valley, and a small flame arose from the blackened ember. Following the sun's instructions, Raven carried nest-building materials over to the flame and soon it was burning brightly, bright enough for the People to think that morning had come!
Soon they were all awake, watching this amazing thing called FIRE as it danced and crackled and warmed the air. Raven sat on a nearby bush, pleased that the People were enjoying her gift. After a few moments, that same little girl who saw her fly away approached her timidly. "What happened to your feathers?" she asked. "They were white when you left last night, but now they are black!" Startled, Raven leaned back to preen her wingblades, and sure enough! the coal had turned her beautiful white feathers a deep dark black. "You are still beautiful!" said the little girl.
And that is how Raven's feathers became black.
Long ago. The breath of the Goddess blew gently over the waters and the heat of the sun began to dry the land that Turtle and Duck had brought up from the ocean depths. The People went to bed with the sun, shivering in the darkness until the sun awoke again. It was hardest during the month of the long nights, when the People weren't tired but it was too dark to be up and about.
One night as the sun was going to bed over the waters, Raven perched on the top of a tree preening her beautiful white feathers. She was very proud of her plumage, and didn't like having even a drop of mud on her wings. Pausing for a moment, she overheard the People complaining about the short days, wishing the sun would leave a part of itself behind for light and warmth in the night. "What a great idea!" thought Raven. Only a small girl saw the flash of white as Raven took off from the tall cedar and flew to the West.
Raven flew a long way, stopping briefly on a small island for a drink of fresh water. She sighed as she watched a small animal scamper away from the creek, wishing there was time for dinner; but she was determined to follow through with her idea and so she flew off again.
Finally, Raven caught up with the sun and explained her plan. The sun happily obliged, taking a small bit of fire and placing it on Raven's white back, balancing it carefully so that it wouldn't interfere with her wings. Once again, Raven flew off, this time to the East, not even stopping once as she flew back into the darkness. Even though it was dark and the wind was cold, she felt a warmth from between her wingblades. She was sure she was overworking those muscles, and she would definitely be sore the next day!
She landed carefully at the foot of the cedar tree and walked slowly to where the People slept. She leaned back on her tail and the bit of the sun rolled down her back and off her tail and into a clump of dried cedar leaves. Just at that moment, a whisper of the breath of the Goddess floated down the valley, and a small flame arose from the blackened ember. Following the sun's instructions, Raven carried nest-building materials over to the flame and soon it was burning brightly, bright enough for the People to think that morning had come!
Soon they were all awake, watching this amazing thing called FIRE as it danced and crackled and warmed the air. Raven sat on a nearby bush, pleased that the People were enjoying her gift. After a few moments, that same little girl who saw her fly away approached her timidly. "What happened to your feathers?" she asked. "They were white when you left last night, but now they are black!" Startled, Raven leaned back to preen her wingblades, and sure enough! the coal had turned her beautiful white feathers a deep dark black. "You are still beautiful!" said the little girl.
And that is how Raven's feathers became black.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Gnostic Rite of Mary Magdalene
Come celebrate the Gnostic Rite of the Holy Order of Myriam of Magdala with Catherine Wright, priestess of TOILA and newly ordained in the Holy Order. This ritual re-enacts the myth of Sophia, Feminine Divine, and Logos in the Gnostic sacrament of the Bridal Chamber, with pagan and Isian mythic elements, with absolutely zero dogmatic or doctrinal content.
Saturday, April 8, 2006 3:30PM
Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach - Wylder Hall
5450 Atherton St., Long Beach CA 90815
Bring yourSelf, snack food to share or flowers for altar.
Donations welcome.
Saturday, April 8, 2006 3:30PM
Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach - Wylder Hall
5450 Atherton St., Long Beach CA 90815
Bring yourSelf, snack food to share or flowers for altar.
Donations welcome.
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