RAT Offering: June 2013

We now go forth to seek dragons with our fresh selves and our new outlook on how to deal with difficult things.

 Summer is upon us and we are entering the realm of fire, where the red fire dragons have been known to roam. This place of passions and intensity, of change and consumption. Here is where we tend to find ourselves feeling our most intense about the things we care about the most. We can be furious, lustful, vengeful, loving, hateful, and passionate about the things that strike our fancy. Our feeling of the moment depends on what is happening to our thing we care so strongly for at any given time.

These intense feelings have lots of energy associated with them. Dragons have been known to be in places with lots of energy. Perhaps this place where we keep our passions is a place we can look for dragons.

A fire gazing trance:

Take a candle, or other flame, let it represent passions. We have passions regarding our homes. We have passions regarding our self care. We have passions regarding our loved ones. We have passions regarding our work. We have passions regarding our spiritual practices. We have passions regarding our community. Look into that flame and allow our passions to appear. Can we see all of the passions we need to see? Are there some that are shadowed, that stand at the edge of the light cast by the flame? We know they are there, we can feel them, but they are concealed by the shadows at the edge of the light.

Look into those shadowed places at the edge of the flame’s light. Do you recoil when you look there? If so, why? Now close your eyes and remove the idea of light and dark from your thoughts. Be courageous, these are your own passions after all, you will come to no harm. Reach out and feel a passion that you could not see. What emotion does it illicit? What action does it desire you to take? Stay a moment and experience being with that passion. Listen, learn, and come to understand what that passion is about.

When you are ready, open your eyes and allow light and dark to re-enter your mind. Does that passion still hide in the shadow? Or does it now stand in the flame’s light?

If it stands in the light of the flame, recognize it, embrace it and welcome it among your other passions that you know. It is now a conscious part of you.

If it remains hidden in shadow, you have more work to do to draw that passion from the shadows. Set intentions to work on learning about that passion so that one day you might welcome it as a conscious part of you.

Take heart, gazing into unseen places requires courage. In our courage, we do honor. As we do honor, we attract the attention of dragons.

Look around again, has the energy of our courage attracted any dragons?

*Please keep in mind we want to hear from you! If you decide to do any of the workings we post, please consider submitting your experience by clicking on the “Your Story” link in the left side navigation bar. 

Don't forget to register for Summer Witchcamp!

We’re offering some truly killer paths this year, and the story is shaping up to birth some truly spectacular rituals. Unfortunately, space is limited for this event, and registration closes July 6th, so don’t delay! 

Can’t wait to see you all there!

deafmuslimpunx:

odditiesoflife:

Leafy Sea Dragons

These stunning sea dragon pictures illuminate their mysterious beauty and extraordinary adaptations. The near-invisibility of their fins gives the sea dragons the appearance of floating seaweed that is drifting with the currents. Instead of scales, they have protective armor to ward off predators. The row of spines along their backs can also wound attackers. At other times they will curl into balls like porcupines in self defense. Truly extraordinary creatures.

They are found in waters aroud Australia. Also check out weedy seadragons.

Real life dragons. There are more than you think. 

the-science-llama:

Super Moon
— June 23, 2013

Be sure to look out for the Moon these next few months as it approaches Perigee, because the full moons during these times will appear exceptionally large. The Moon will be at its Perigee, or closest approach, in July 23 and it will reach full moon only a few minutes after it passes this point in its orbit.

These ‘super moons’ not only appear larger because they are physically closer but, combined with a full moon, the mind can play tricks on you to think they are much larger. This phenomena is called the Moon Illusion. Try to catch these full moons as they rise/set because the illusion works when there is an object in the foreground, like a tree, building or mountains.

Stargazing Events for 2013

Looks like one of these amazing “super moons” will occur during summer witchcamp! Can’t wait to view it from one of the many magical places on Four Quarters’ land— perhaps the stone circle or labyrinth!

Summer Camp 2013 Path Descriptions

This year Spiralheart is pleased to offer 4 different paths at our Summer Intensive Witchcamp (if you haven’t registered already, do so now— space is limited!) The paths being offered this year are:

• Shape-shifting: Finding our Right Size (facilitated by Willie, Shiela & Puddles)
• Shadow Path: Know Yourself in All of Your Parts (facilitated by Brook & Joan)
• The Infinite Song: Sacred Sound (facilitated by Julie Dragonfly & Watersong)
• Elements of Magic (facilitated by: Emily)

For full descriptions of each path, just click the title.

I look forward to seeing you all there!

Don't forget to register for Summer Witchcamp!

Space for this event is limited and registration closes June 22nd, so don’t delay! I’d love to see you all there!

The Dragon & The Hummingbird

As most of you know, this year Spiralheart is working with the story of The Dragon & The Hummingbird. The story serves as a source of inspiration and discussion throughout the year. It is also a large part of what influences the evening rituals planned during camp.

After you’ve registered for camp you will receive a booklet in the mail with a copy of the story, and tons of other info too (how to get to camp, what to bring, a description of the paths being offered, etc). But for those of you who’d like to get a jump start on the magic, here is the story below as it will appear in your pre-camp booklet. (If you’d like to read the original, full length story, you can do so here. The original version is roughly 20 pages long.)

The Dragon & The Hummingbird

When there was nothing, Dragon was born— immortal, and strong. Spirit gifted Dragon with powerful magic. He could fly, with great wings spreading across the sky. He could breathe fire, in hot gouts gushing forth from within him. He could hear and speak to all creatures, without ever opening his mouth. He could shapeshift, choosing and changing his form at will. His fire was the molten core of the planet, his scales were iron in the depths of the earth, and the beats of his wings were thunder in the night sky.

Read More

Merry Beltane!

Healing and Wholeness through Shadow Work

Sunday, June 2 from 1:00-4:30pm at Radiance in Lancaster
Offered by Reclaiming facilitators Sylvan Redbird, and Joan Brooks.
Prerequisite: Elements of Magic class in Reclaiming Tradition (or
equivalent). This workshop draws heavily on the co-created, participatory ritual work of Reclaiming practices.

“For those who can read the body, it holds the record of our rejected side, revealing what we dare not speak, expressing our current and past fears.”

~John P. Conger, “The Body as Shadow,” Meeting the Shadow

The times we live in, and the work we must bring out into the world as priestesses, healers, activists, lovers, and visionaries will be better served by through our increased sense of wholeness and integration. Shadow work is an important practice for our health and wellbeing, especially as we step into our personal power and leadership. For what waits in the shadow is often our magnificence as well as those other aspects of ourselves deemed undesirable.

We will listen and learn through ecstatic ritual, trance, voice and movement (don’t let this stop you from joining), and speaking our truths together. We will seek personal healing in a ritual group setting and courageously embrace our power to trust, stepping forward to be agents of change and transformation, for the healing of ourselves and the world.

Click through for more info, and for how to register.

inspiration.