Meeting with a Queer Witches Group
I met with a bunch of queer witches tonight. The group had met twice before in the last two months, but it was my first time attending. It was interesting to see the five new faces and two familiar faces. I found the group a bit chaotic at first, but once the circle was cast things seemed to move along just fine.
Connie and Donald from my previous witch class were there, and in addition the group was made up of an additional two women and three men. There were eight of us present and there was one additional member who was absent from the group.
After admiring the host's garden, which I understand is named Tallulah, we went inside and sat around a table. After some chatter, we cast a circle using the "From my heart to your heart the circle is cast" method. We checked in around the table regarding the goings on in our lives.
I was asked to draw a card from a Fey (faery) deck of Tarot cards. I drew the Wisest One, which in most decks is called the Hierophant (or Pope). My sense is that in the Fey deck, he is called the Wise One so that queer buttons do not get pushed, since in our modern world, the Roman Catholic Pope condemns homosexuality and the fey interpretation of the Tarot wants to encourage thinking about this card in a way that is not colored by that negative response.
Another member of the group, Eli, drew another card to help clarify the first card. She drew the Star. I thought this was a very interesting combination. The Star represents a pointer, or a way of finding direction. The cards seemed to be telling us that we had both points of reference to guide us and the wisdom to read those points to move forward.
The group thought that these cards would be good to take into an intention filed spirit journey. I will write about my experience in trance in my next post.
I realize that nine months have passed since I last posted here. Much has happened in my life since then. I have maintained a life of spirit through this time, despite my silence here.
Labels: community, mystery, spiritual path, witchcraft
Twin Cities Reclaiming (Ethel Me')
Let me tell you about a fantastic class that I have been participating in for the last eight or so months. The class (or path) that I have been participating in is facilitated by a man that I have had the benefit of knowing for a few years, we both have attended the
Midwest Men's Festival.
I first found out about the group through an email that Donald sent to me containing lots of information. Some of this information is copied below.
Ethel Mé – Twin Cities Reclaiming Community Offerings
Ethel Mé, the priestessing program begun in 2005, by Donald Engstrom/Reese, Paul Eaves and Teri Parsley Starnes has changed form for 2006 - 2007. The words Ethel Mé could be translated from Nordic runes (Ethel) and Sumerian language (Mé) as Clan Magic. It is this magic of the clan that we invoke for our work this year.
We will gather monthly to experience, explore and deepen our clan magic. As last year, we will meet one Saturday a month. Different from last year, there will be three paths offered in the mornings from 9:00 am to noon. [See path descriptions below.] These paths require a year’s commitment from its members... Our meeting dates will be the third Saturday of the month. We ask for a donation for each meeting.
Note: the first gathering will be on Saturday, September 16. In the afternoon, we will have the Fall Twin Cities Reclaiming meeting while we celebrate the season with a harvest feast. We invite those who claim to be Reclaiming witches and those who do not. At this feast, we will talk about how we want to move forward as a community, gathering ideas about our afternoon sessions and any other community concerns.
Elements of Magic Intensive
anchored by Donald Engstrom/Reese
One of the projects Ethel Me’ will present this coming season is a year-long intensive focused on the Elements of Magic. This program will encompass the basics taught in many standard Reclaiming Witchcraft 101 classes. However,we will explore these basics and other topics to a depth not normally allowed for in a shorter Reclaiming introductory session. In this Elements intensive we will look at, among other things, ritual design, daily practice, spell working, trance journeying, the labyrinth, Pagan prayer beads, gender work, the seven sacred voices, and many assorted elemental gifts of the multiverse.
Together we will dare to live awake, aware and with conscious intent. Together we will dare to delve deep within and without, nurturing our relationships with the Mysterious Ones, ancestors and spirits of the Upper Mississippi Valley. Together we will dare to dwell in Beauty, Balance and Delight.
This class will be anchored by Donald L. Engstrom/Reese, who each month will be joined by local and visiting guest teachers.
Participants are expected to commit to attending at least ten of the twelve Elements sessions.
Today we met for our eighth session, and it was again, a wonderful experience. I have been an atheistic mystic for a very long time, called myself a radical faerie for several years, and more recently I have begun to embrace the term "witch." I am learning old and new traditions, and I am tapping into mystery in a new way and with renewed intention.
Labels: community, coven, druid, Ethel Me, faggot god, magic, mystery, nature, witchcraft
