Connecting To The Seasons: What I've Learned About Harvest

Practitioners of Earth-centered spirituality use the natural cycles to
learn about themselves and their relationship with the planet and the
living beings that inhabit it. Natural cycles can also be used as a
template to effect change and bring a greater depth of harmony with
all of existence. Yet, many, if not most, modern Shamans and Pagans
live in industrialized locales quite divorced from the natural seasons
and world in which they live.

We buy out of season food grown in other locales. We work at our
jobsand earn money, which we spend on food, clothing, shelter
and our otherneeds. We may not have any relationship, outside
of being a consumer,with the seasons and people that produce
what we consume. We live in artificial light and are not in harmony
with diurnal/nocturnal cycles. Some of us travel for our livelihoods
and our biological clocks never find a steady rhythm. All of this
can leave us feeling estranged from the Earth, our fellow creatures,
and the seasons we inhabit.

Native people, practicing their traditional Earth-centered
spirituality, make it a daily practice to honor the land, the
seasons and all who share our world, seen and unseen. They stay
in harmony with the Earth throughobservation, knowledge,
ceremony, reverence, prayer, expressing gratitude, and ordering
their lives to work within the cycles and seasons. Balance is strived
for in their day to day lives. Depending on the part of the world they
inhabit, these people hold the wisdom of their locale and work within
it, respecting limits and natural consequences.

The Celtic tribes of the British Isles saw (and some individuals still
see) the presence of Spirit in everything. Trees, rocks, wells, streams,
and other natural parts of the landscape each had/have their own
Spirit or Spirit Guardian. Even though much knowledge, wisdom,
and tradition have been lost through industrialization and
Christianization, the Earth wisdom can still be seen in Ireland,
Wales, Scotland and other parts of the Isles, particularly in local
oral folk traditions, prayers and sayings. Some of the older
generation still pass on the wisdom of how to show respect to these
guardians and unseen, or seldom seen, presences. In Ireland the
presences are called "the Shining Ones" and "the Sidhe".Other names
are given in different parts of the British Isles such as "the Fay", "the
Good People", and "the Folk". Furthermore, individuals with the ability
to see the Folk are said to have "the Sight".

It was considered important to show respect and know the appropriate
protocol when living with the Folk. Offerings of food or milk might be
left out, parts of the harvest were left on trees and in fields, and one
did not harvest during a certain time of the year, depending on where
you lived and the Spirits of your area. It was crucial to know what to
do, when to do it, in what proper order and particular time of year,
along with the proper offeringsand/or ceremonies. Each locale had its
own particular Spirits. Disrespect towards these entities and the
Spirits of the Land, also ignoring natural cycles and becoming imbalanced,
could manifest as illness and/or misfortune.

A large body of lore, prayers, and oral tradition, some of which
has been written and published, surround the Fay, natural cycles,
seasons, and life. Much of this information has been Christianized,
but you can still see its Earth-centered roots.

The Celts and other traditional Earth-centered cultures, such as the
Navajo mentioned later in this article, do not recognize a separation
of the Sacred and day to day life. All aspects of living are considered
Sacred, from the preparation of the fields for planting to the baking
of the bread. All beings are viewed as being connected to the web of
life. The concept of the word "mundane" is foreign to the traditional
Earth-centered world view. The sun, moon, elements, weather,
rocks, plants, animals, and everything else in the world all have a
Spirit that connects to the whole and it is important to keep a
balance.

One of the practices of the Traditional Navajo culture in the United
States is to greet the rising sun with praise, prayers and pollen. The
other side of this same practice is to pray and gift pollen to the sun
when it sets. Traditional Navajos live their lives in harmony with the
waxing and waning of the seasons. They rise before sunrise and greet
the day with gratitude and prayers. They also express their gratitude
and thanks at the end of the day when the sun is setting. Their lives
are directed by the seasons, by the plantings of their crops, the life
cycle of their sheep, the daylight available and other seasonal natural
resources.

Traditional Navajo ceremonies reflect the Navajo view of the
individuals' relationships being in harmony with Mother Earth and all
her creatures. When an individual gets ill, the illness is seen as
symptoms demonstrating that the sick individual is out of balance.
Sometimes the imbalance is a sort of infection brought about by
contamination from exposure to forces, or energies, that are
destructive and taboo in traditional culture. Divination and healing
ceremonies are done in order to bring an ill individual back into
balance or to rid the sick individual of contamination and help them
reenter the balance of existence.

Many urbanites have a plethora of illnesses, sickness and dis-ease.
Allergies, seasonal colds, flu, aches, pains and psychological problems
plague those individuals who live divorced from the land and natural
cycles. Overcrowding also takes a harsh toll. Living so closely
together fosters the spread of communicable disease. Anyone who has
had children in public school can probably begin to see the recycling
and mutation of viruses from child to child, then on to the parents,
and back to the child, and on again. In a weird way, this is a type of
harvest.

Harvest time has always brought me a unique opportunity to work with
people around issues of practical harvest, where their food comes from,
and metaphysical/metaphorical harvests, you reap what you sow. When
facilitating public harvest-time ceremonies, I always try to help bring
people into awareness of how the "bread*" they earn buys the bread that
they eat. In addition, a knowing that there is an entire chain of
resources that go into the making of the bread that nourishes them, not
the least of which is Mother Earth. Once I help them become aware, I
then try and help them get in touch with their gratitude.

Metaphorical harvests, you reap what you sow, are the less tangible
harvests that talk about the natural consequences of our thoughts,
words, and deeds. I use the natural cycles and growing seasons to
illustrate developmental concepts/tasks. For instance, if we plant
the idea/seed of developing a certain aspect in our life, bring our
focus, like the sun, to bear on it by giving it needed energy, water
the idea/seed with our efforts, weed out what doesn't foster our
youngplant/aspect, then allow these to ripen, what follows is that
we can enjoy the harvest of the manifestation of the desired aspect
in our lives. To further the metaphor, we can winnow the wheat from
the chaff and store the surplus grain for future nutrition and next
year's planting.

Negative harvests come about in a similar way. A person can sew bitter
words in the spring, fan the flames and heighten the hatred with the
light of selective attention and efforts, water the young hatred with
gossip and character assassination, weed out any positive aspects, grow
the aspect with recycled anger, ripen the aspect with disdain, then
enjoy (or not) the bitter harvest of poisonous grain turned to toxic bread.
Lacking substantial nourishment, the eater of this bitter bread ends up
still feeling hungry and hollow, as does anyone who has shared this
meal with him/her. The best outcome in a negative harvest is that
perhaps the individual will take a personal inventory and see that
growing negativity means they end up feeling unsatisfied and
malnourished.

How can Urban Shamans and Pagans foster a closer relationship with the
natural cycles and seasons? How can we learn the lessons of connection
and harvest? One thing that all of us can do is to become familiar
with what grows in our particular area and at what time of the year it
is available for consumption. The growing movement aimed at developing
local farmers' markets fosters the selling of locally grown seasonal produce
for urbanmarkets. Often this produce is grown by sustainable practices
on small family run farms, rather than with unhealthy practices often
found in corporate agriculture. When we buy and consume our produce
seasonally and from a local source we get the health and connection
benefits while supporting sustainable agricultural practices. Another way
to explore and support sustainable local farming is to research Community
Supported Agriculture or CSA's.

Spending regular time outside in the natural world, whether it be in
your garden, a park, or some local spot that has trees, birds, weather,
sunshine, and other natural life helps to develop a real relationship
with the Earth, fellow creatures, and cycles. Engage all of your
senses: listen, smell, see, taste, and feel. Close your eyes and see
if you can sense the different energies. Visit your spot at different
times of the day, different seasons, and in different weather. Keep a
journal that describes your experiences and chronicles the seasonal
changes over time.

Here are some questions that can help engage your senses and also help
develop a more intimate relationship with the natural world. What
birds are you hearing and seeing? What are they doing? What else do
you hear? What are you smelling? What does that furry plant feel
like? What plants and trees are currently growing? What stage are
they in? Are there shoots, leaves, buds, flower, fruit, or are the
plants/trees spent and dormant? Is there water close by? Is it
flowing? What's in it? What does it smell like? What temperature is
it? What does the dirt/loam smell like? What does it feel like? What
is the weather doing? What does that blade of grass taste like? These
are just a few questions to help spark your curiosity and deepen your
connection.

Develop a relationship with the diurnal/nocturnal cycles. Start a
ceremony where you wake, go outside and greet and give thanks to the
dawn. Follow up your sunrise ceremony with going outside and giving
thanks for your day as the sun sets. Practice your ceremony every day
in every type of weather. As you practice over time, you will find
yourself in relationship with the life giving cycles and seasons of the
dance of Earth and Sun.

Growing a garden is a very good hands on way to get in touch with the
seasons and the Earth. There's nothing more grounding than actually
getting your hands down into the soil. If you have never gardened, it
is best to start small. Do some basic research on gardening. Read
many books and find out about what your area can grow and support.
Find out about first and final frost dates. Look at your available
space and see how much sun it gets. Check into how different
times/phases of the moon best suite a particular garden task. Decide
which type of plants best suit your space, climate, sun availability,
likes and needs (if you hate brussels sprouts, don't grow them). Start
a gardening journal where you can record your experiences, successes,
not-so-successes, the weather, and other information.

There are many positive ways that the urban Shaman and Pagan can get in
closer relationship with the Earth and seasons for health and
self-development. What it takes is knowing that you have a need,
desire, a fearless self-inventory of current personal patterns, a plan,
then action to carry the plan out.

Whether you start by praising the rising and setting sun, grow a
garden, shop at the local farmers' market, become better educated on
using the seasons for self-development, or start a wandering nature
journal, you can ultimately harvest a more intimate, healthy, and
balanced relationship with Mother Earth, the seasons and our fellow
creatures. When harvest time rolls around you will reap what you have
sown and have some understanding of what went into the process. You
can then decide if your seeds are worth saving for future nourishment
and next year's planting.

Fruitful blessings on all your harvests!

To find out more information on farmers' markets and CSA check out:

Canada/Ontario http://www.farmersmarketsontario.com/
http://www.carpfarmersmarket.com/

Canada/BC http://www.eatlocal.org/

Canada/Vancouver http://www.vancouverfarmersmarket.com/

Canada/Alberta http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/store/farmersmarket/

Canada and USA http://marketplace.chef2chef.net/farmer-markets/

UK http://www.farmersmarkets.net/
http://www.ortonfarmers.co.uk/
http://www.waverley.gov.uk/farmersmarket/index.asp

Scotland http://www.scottishfarmersmarkets.co.uk/

USA http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/
http://www.localharvest.org/
http://www.fruitstands.com/

World http://www.openair.org/

Online http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/

Farmers' market marketing and business guide: USA
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/farmmrkt.html

Resouces for farmers' markets http://www.nemw.org/farmersmarkets/

Lady Raven Ariana
copyright 2005 all rights reserved

*"bread" a North American/UK slang term from the 1960s meaning money

Journey To The Temple Of Sekhmet

Our journey began as we set out in the wee hours, hoping to reach the Temple by noon. The moon rode the sky, waxing toward fullness, as clouds swirled in an accompanying dance. Our drive took us through mountains and high plateau, desert and red rock. The moon kept us company and set just before dawn, gradually deepening from white to yellow to mellow orange. Our journey was a pilgrimage, a spiritual quest to visit the desert Temple dedicated to the Goddess in all her guises and specially consecrated to the powerful Goddess, Sekhmet.

Sekhmet is the Egyptian Goddess of 4,000 names, many of her names lost through time. She is depicted as a woman with the head of a lioness and is known to be a powerful Goddess for protection, fire, and the Sun's transformational energy. Her origins are ancient and she has many attributes.

One of her legends is that she is the daughter of Ra, the Egyptian Sun God. When the Earth became afflicted with demons and evil, Ra sent Sekhmet to slaughter the demons and cleanse the Earth. Sekhmet rose to the challenge and killed these demons and evil doers in a joyous frenzy. When all of the demons had been killed her frenzy did not abate. Sekhmet was tricked into passivity by being offered beer dyed blood-red. She drank this "blood" and become soothed by the alcohol and thus her killing frenzy ended.

The Temple of Sekhmet is located in a sensitive oasis in Nevada bordered by the Nevada Nuclear Test Site, the Indian Springs Air Force Base, and the prison. Once sacred ground to the Shoshoni tribe, the area has been used and exploited for war and the practice of perfecting killing and nuclear holocaust. In fact, during our visit the air force base was engaged in war games.

The Temple was built and dedicated to Sekhmet in 1993 by Genevieve Vaughn and has been served over the years by a succession of priestesses. Full moon rituals, holy days, retreats, protests, and new moon women's mysteries are some of the ongoing activities available at the Temple. The Temple also organizes an annual lament at the gates of the Nevada Nuclear Test Site. The Temple is a work of art. open to the Four Directions, with an open top, graced with a beautiful iron lattice sculpture.

Sekhmet presides in her Temple with other aspects of the Goddess. You will see a gorgeous Earth Mother, the Virgin de Guadalupe, Bast, and many others. A table set up with handouts and a book to add prayers, greets us. A fire pit in the center of the Temple, ringed by an iron sculpture of dancing women, stands under the bright-blue sky. Many people have left offerings. The grounds around the Temple are also an ongoing work of art. Many people have crafted lovely tributes asking for peace and healing for all of Mother Earth and Her creatures.

The land around the Temple is peaceful, despite its proximity to the road and military activity. Beautiful wildflowers and birdsong greeted us in this desert oasis. Views of the surrounding mountains were gorgeous. Even when we were buzzed by an air force helicopter, the feeling of Sekhmet's protection remained. What an appropriate Goddess for such an endangered place. Beautiful Sekhmet and her sister Goddesses hold space against some of the mightiest war machines on Earth.

My pilgrimage to the Temple is an honoring to one of the wonderful Goddesses who have come to me as allies, healers, and teachers over the years. I wanted to come and pay my respects, gift Sekhmet with beautiful flowers, and make a promise to carry out a task in her name. The next part of my journey would allow me the opportunity to carry out my promised task.

After we spent time exploring, meditating, taking pictures, and enjoying the beauty, my mate and I headed out to for the next leg of our journey honoring Sekhmet. Our next stop was Kanab, Utah and a visit to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. I had made a promise to donate money to the special needs kitties at the Sanctuary in Sekhmet's name.

Best Friends is the largest "no kill" animal sanctuary in the United States. Located in gorgeous Angel's canyon, Best Friends houses cats, dogs, horses, sheep, burros, rabbits, birds, wild friends that can no longer fend for themselves, and other animals. They are active in spear heading the "No More Homeless Pets" campaign and facilitate a volunteer network that spans the globe. Best Friends provide a loving home for many special needs animals that will never find a forever family. I knew that Sekhmet would be pleased to have money donated to some of these special friends in her name.

Our visit to Best Friends was wonderful. We were impressed by everything we saw and wished we had more time to stay and volunteer in this beautiful and peaceful place. People come from all over the world to volunteer at Best Friends. Folks walk dogs, clean enclosures, pet and socialize kitties, and engage in the many care taking responsibilities for the Sanctuary. It is a real feel good type of place. The perfect place to honor Sekhmet and other aspects of the Goddess.

After our visit to Best Friends, we finished our pilgrimage by visiting two of our National Parks, Zion and Bryce. We had arranged to meet a couple of our friends, who were up visiting from the San Francisco area, in Zion. The four of us are nature recordists and we were scheduled to do some sound research for the Park Service. We were being joined by another nature recordist and long time champion and advocate for our National Parks.

The research we were engaging involves recording and documenting intrusive man-made sounds in the National Parks. Quiet is considered one of our precious natural resources needing preservation. Air tours, helicopter tours, jets, other air fly overs, and snowmobiles are endangering our natural soundscapes. Nearby St. George, Utah, is looking to expand its airport. This means many more intrusive fly overs for our nearby, Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce National Parks.

The Nature Sounds Society, which we are members, is working with the Park Service to actively educate people and save the sound environments in the National Parks. This means volunteers to educate, develop recording protocol, and record baseline sounds. Most people are unaware of this important issue. The parks currently the most endangered are the Hawaiian Parks, Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce and Yellowstone, though intrusive man-made noise is an issue all over the globe. Once we lose our natural quiet in the parks and other places we may never get it back.

What a fabulous conclusion to our honoring of Sekhmet. We were able to spend time in both Parks logging man-made sound, recording and working out bugs in our logging/recording protocol. We enjoyed wonderful company, gorgeous scenery, wildflowers, wild weather, and animal/bird friends while we were there. I felt sure that Sekhmet was smiling and protecting us on the rest of our adventures and all the way home.

There are so very many ways that a Pagan Priest/ess can serve the Earth and the Goddesses/Gods/Spirit in a practical way. One doesn't have to work within the organizing of religion to do so. In fact, one doesn't have to be particularly social or enjoy people. The special part, in my opinion, of being a Pagan is being able to have a personal relationship with Spirit. Honoring all of our fellow living beings and the Earth as a living representation of Spirit is what it is all about. Now, more than ever, we need everybody to care, seek education, and get involved.

If you would like to learn more about the Temple of Sekhmet please visit:
http://www.sekhmettemple.com

To learn more about Best Friends Animal Sanctuary please visit:
http://www.bestfriends.org

If you are interested in the issue of preserving natural quiet and the Nature Sounds Society please visit:
http://www.naturesounds.org

Getting To Know The Goddess

The Goddess reveals herself to me in the changing seasons. The dance of dark and light unfold the interplay of bud, leaf, fruit and seed. The years weave together a spiral of deepening knowledge. As I ascend/descend, my ears attune to Her Voice. I learn Her many languages and what She has to say to me.

Dawn brings the Maiden, budding innocence. She dances in the spring, fresh and lively. In my region, she is accompanied by days of varied weather. Rain, snow, sun and wind are all changing partners. I watch the shift when the female robins return and the male robins begin to defend their territories. When the apples blossom, I wonder if we will have a frost. I notice the cycles from spring to spring. It seems that I have a bountiful crop of apples every other year. I notice that when the apples are scarce other fruits are plentiful.
I ask myself, "What shall I renew this year?" I also ask, "What, in my life, needs the refreshment of innocence?"

Passionate Mother cradles the summer days. Trees in full leaf shade me from high noon heat. I still see changing weather. Sometimes it is a tempest, an afternoon thundershower. Other weather, sometimes know as dog days in July, bring high temperatures and dryness. The robins are paired with their young in the trees. I hear the distinct call of the new ones. I notice that the pair that own my yard leave their babies in the maple, the plum and the apples, just as they have during previous summers. They drink from the tortoise and dogs' bowls and dig for worms, scratching the leaves like chickens. They passionately chase rivals from their space. The fruit is waxing. I ask myself, "What am I passionate about?" and "What needs passion in my life at this time?"

The Queen of autumn brings the harvest. Are there many apples? I feel a shift as the days are now poised, in balance. The evenings bring a different smell, a bit of chill, perhaps some frost. I can feel that change is in the air, heralded by brilliant leaves. The crickets slow and the weather can shift suddenly. The last robin baby is flying well and learning to sing. You can hear the father teaching him the song as the sun fades from the sky, the baby's song incomplete. In this region, each fall brings a different pattern. Sometimes the days and nights stay warm and we have an Indian summer, while at other times a sudden freezing storm can bring down limbs heavily laden with leaves and snow. I ask myself, "What has been fruitful in my life this year?". I also ask, "What am I thankful for?"

Midnight blows in the Winter Crone or she may creep in on stealthy frozen feet. The leaves have fallen and the trees are mostly naked. The remaining robins are young males and they fly in flocks. They visit the withered fruit left on the trees. Sometimes the birds get drunk eating fermenting fruit on the rare warm day. I find their intoxicated antics humorous. Each year I watch them getting drunk on the neighbor's hawthorn berries. Chickadees, juncos, and cedar waxwings join the robins at their party. The seeds sleep underground, blanketed in the cold earth, each holding the promise of precious life. I review my year and evaluate what I have sown, what has flourished and grown, what I have harvested, and what seeds are available for next year. Did I like all of my crops? Do I need to make changes? Have I been happy in my loves and endeavors? The big questions for me at this time, after my evaluation, have to do with leaving space for listening. I ask myself, "What do I need to make space to hear the Goddess?" and "How best can I empty myself, rest, and restore myself so I may end this cycle in a healthy way?"

All the facets of Goddess; Maiden, Mother, Queen and Crone, help me to navigate my path as a developing being on this planet. I am at all times all faces of the Goddess, yet each, in Her Season, help to teach me balance and wisdom. Through the passing years I see new interconnections and learn to more deeply understand and appreciate what she is saying to me. I learn new lessons and get reminded of old ones. I learn how to use my magic to grow, bend, and shape myself into greater happiness and harmony. The Goddess speaks in the language of Love and I taste Her nectar, listening to Her sweet music, while also experiencing the unfolding, beauty and antics of Sacred Life all around me.

What I Have Learned About Gratitude

Feeling thankful as the Holiday Seasons come up, I have been reflecting
on the nature of gratitude and appreciation. I have not always had the
presence to truly and genuinely feel grateful. As a Sagittarius, I
can't lie when I don't feel thankful and this has caused some less than
entertaining adventures. People tend to like those individuals whom
have the gifts of the socially graceful. LIttle white lies have a
tendency to slip by some of us Sags. Honesty, socially speaking, is
not always the best policy. I won't bore you all with tales of my
social mishaps. Instead, I shall get on with how I learned to get in
touch with my gratitude.

I remember attending a Sweat Lodge many years ago lead by an Apache
Medicine Man. Part of the tradition of the Lodge is to express
appreciation to the Grandmothers, Grandfathers and the Spirits. I was
having a very difficult time during this period and could not honestly
feel connected to any sense of gratitude. When I spoke to the Medicine
Man about my condition and reluctance to participate in the Lodge, he
very gently encouraged me to attend. He counseled that I open myself,
pray, and stay with my honesty. If I did not feel grateful, this was
okay. Spirit could see in my heart and offer healing. Inside the
Lodge I was moved to pray that I come to the ability to feel and
express appreciation.

Looking back at that time, I can honestly say that my prayers were
answered. Spirit stepped forward and presented me with various lessons
and opportunities to learn about gratitude. I can now look at a
beautiful sunset and feel, within my essence, grateful. I honestly
enjoy coming home from my 10:00 A.M to 6:00 P.M. job and feel the
welcome from my fur companions and appreciate them. I can actually
experience all of the wonderful gifts that Spirit brings into my life
with the presence, wonder and gratitude that I have always wanted.

What changed? In contemplating this question I think that I can come
up with a few ideas. Part of the change has to do with my own personal
growth. Awareness, intention, and the willingness to face myself in an
honest fashion and to change my behaviors has allowed the space I need
to experience gratitude. One of the things that I have had to change
is my relationship with my past. Like many folks, I grew up in a
dysfunctional family and I experienced a lot of pain and damage. I had
to learn to reframe my past and see it through the eyes of the wounded
healer. This allowed me to view my past experiences as a fertile
learning ground for helping others. Not that this made my past fun,
instead it allowed me to glean the lessons and make sense out of
something that I could not change, my past.

I also learned to change some of my personal expectations of the world
in terms of reality. I have always had some idea of what "fair" is and
when "fair" didn't happen, as it often doesn't in the real world, I
would become angry and this anger would taint my entire experience.
Letting go of the mental construct of expecting a "fair" world allowed
me to release some of this anger. Releasing a tainting anger leaves
more space for feeling appreciation. This is still a work in process
as I occasionally catch myself falling back into projections of "fair".

Another very valuable lesson was learning how to appreciate myself, the
gifts that I offer, and to set boundaries. With out these lessons I
would give my gifts to those unable to appreciate them. "What's the
problem with that?" one might ask. The problem I found with giving to
those whom are unable or unwilling to appreciate is that the situation
often generates anger. This can happen when folks are demanding, rude,
take you for granted, learn to expect you to do for them, or just
generally resent you because you are able to give and they have some
sense of feeling beholden. Anger, once again, tends to get in the way
of feeling gratitude. I can't feel appreciation when I am upset
because someone is acting out with me after I have given them service.
All the logic in the world cannot help someone be grateful for the
services you provide if they do not feel this gratitude within their
own heart. Learning these valuable lessons allows me to set boundaries
and move away from frustrating relationships that are not respectful
and reciprocal, thus freeing time, space, and energy for relationships
that I can appreciate. More reasons to feel thankful.

Getting in touch with my ability to feel appreciation has been a
process within and without. Reframing the past, letting go of
unrealistic expectations, learning to appreciate myself and my talents,
taking ongoing personal inventory, changing behaviors, setting
boundaries, and moving away from relationships with those individuals
or organizations whom can not or will not respect and appreciate have
all been essential in my journey towards thankfulness.
Spirit/God/Goddess has also graced my life in this endeavor. I have
had the good fortune to have opportunities in my life to learn, grow
and change. I view my Craft as a developmental path that brings me
closer to the Earth and the Divine. I am a Yuletide baby and I can
honestly say that my life is a precious gift and I give thanks to
Spirit and to all whom share it with me. I wish you all the very best
in your personal journey towards a grateful life.

The Other PPDs: satirical and fictitious correspondence

After participating in helping out for a local Pagan Pride Day and finding out just how large some of the egos that were involved are, the following spoofs were posted to an e-group that is no longer in existence.

Panty Pride Day Update

Planning is underway for our next year's Panty Pride Day. It looks to
be an exciting day of events all focused on promoting the importance of
underwear. The following is a FAQ sheet to help all of you answer the
most frequently asked questions about Panty Pride day.

Panty Pride Day FAQ

Q. Why do you have Panty Pride Day?

A. Our mothers taught us that it always important to wear clean and
nice-looking underwear just in case we happen to get into a car
accident and have to go to the hospital only to feel embarrassed when
the doctor and nurses see the holes in less than pristine panties. We
have taken this attitude to heart and feel that it is a critical
mission to educate others in the importance of nice undies. Comfort
and confidence go hand in hand. When one has the proper foundation
garments one can sit in any situation and project complete competence
and continence. Cleanliness and personal hygiene are also important
and stressed at our events.

Q. When and Where are Panty Pride Day?

A. Depends.

Q. Is Panty Pride Day only about boxers and butthuggers?

A. Absolutely not! Panty Pride Day celebrates all styles of underwear.
We do not discriminate. Bras, teddies, g-strings, long johns, slips,
corsets, and various lingerie, are celebrated along with the more
traditional boxers, briefs, bikini, sport cut, etc. style panty.

Q. What types of workshops do you offer for Panty Pride Day?

A. Whatever our volunteers are qualified and willing to teach. Past
Panty Pride Day events have seen workshops covering such topics as:
Cotton vs. Synthetic Material, How to Find a Fit For the Proper
Brassier, Name Brands, Get the Most Comfortable Panty and Still Look
Great, Girdles: Are They Only a Foundation Form of the Past?, Corsets
and Assets, Protecting Your Undergarments: Choosing Panty-liners,
Douches, and Deodorants, How To Get the Racing Stripes Out of Your
Shorts So You Can Pick Up Girls, On the Rag: Facts about Menstruation
and Your Undies

Q. What can I expect from the main Panty Pride Day Ceremony?

A. Each ceremony is a bit different depending on who is host/essing.
The theme is always one of celebrating underwear. There is usually a
procession featuring folks modeling various styles of undergarments.
One year our host/esses were a colorful drag queen team, called Busting
Out All Over, whom did a spectacular job of involving the participants.
Always a blast for all.

Q. What other events do you have at Panty Pride Day?

A. We have various performing artists showcasing their talents while
wearing underwear. We have the Foundation Garment Museum. We have
vendors selling all sorts of undergarments of all kinds. Non-profit
organizations for the advancement of related issues share information
at their booths. We have a special Panty and Lingerie Shrine. We
feature a fashion show were designers share their latest. Jugglers,
dancers, buskers, mimes, card sharks, scam artists, and others baffle
the masses with their roving talents. We have our special Panty/Bra
Hall of Horrors and much more!

Q, Can anyone attend?

A. Absolutely! Something for everyone.

Hope this little FAQ sheet will help all of you in answering the many
questions asked of those of us whom help out with Panty Pride Day.

Blessings all!

Naughty Zoot
High Priestess of the Great Goddess YoMama
Grand Poobess of the Order of the Yelks (Yapping Elks)
Most Wise and Senior Advisor to His Holiness the Grand Wiper of Other
People's Bottoms
Founding High Priestess of Aardvarkian Wicca
Holy Holder of Coyote's Tricky Testicles
Bearer of the Grail of the Holy Elderberry
Regional Coordinator of Panty Pride Day




Furthermore.....


Greetings, Oh Naughty Zoot,

I want to once again extend my appreciation for all of your support in
helping us get Pooh-bah Pride Day together. Panty Pride Day has been
such a wonderful inspiration for us all and I am thrilled that you have
so generously shared yourself so that we can have a successful
inauguration for Pooh-bah Pride Day . The following is a tentative
schedule for the Pooh-bah Pride Day events, keeping in mind that we do
not have everything set in stone.

10:00 A.M. - Opening ceremonies: Our M.C. will open the event by
announcing the Parade of Pooh-bahs. The Pooh-bahs will promenade down
through the site to the front stage in all of their finery. Our M.C.
will then introduce each important personage with all appropriate
titles.

11:00 A.M.-sign up for the Pooh-bahlympics (games and competitions)

1:00 P.M.-Pooh-bahlympics begin. We will offer the following:

*Distance Air Kissing
*Soap-box Derby (a stationary event)
*As Far As You Can Throw Them (similar to the caber toss)
*Doctor's Spin Off
*Rants and Raves (a debate competition)
*The Salad Toss ( competitive event for the best brown nosing)
*Sumo Wrestling in Green Jello
*Gas-a-thon (wagers will be accepted on whom can pontificate non-stop
the longest
before taking a breath or passing out. Participants and observers
will be cautioned
to close one hole before opening the other.)
*Best Fez Contest (different categories based on types of officious
head gear)
*Wild Bull-shit Riding (hip waders optional)
*Toot-Your-Own-Horn Karaoke (trot out your titles while we provide the
tunes)
*Celebrity Boast

Ongoing events:
Hot Air Balloon Rides (in our custom Fez shaped hot air balloon)
workshops
booths
author book signing
live music

***author book signing will feature Dr. X. Crement, famed author of the
self-help book, "Asshole No More", promoting his new book "Parades,
Charades, and Tirades: Pooh-bah Politics and Platforms".

***our headlining band will be The Blowhards singing their hit, "Our
Shit Doesn't Stink", and other acts to be announced

***we are currently putting together a workshop lineup so stay tuned
for further details

Thank you again for all of your support in helping our inaugural
Pooh-bah Pride Day be a rousing success.

With much appreciation,

Lord Lickety Split
Chief Conniver and Controller for the Church of the Self-Important
The Honorable Mr. Moneybags and Pursewarden for the High Order of the
Humblest That Can Be Got
69th Degree High Priest of The One RIght And True Tradition
Grand Patootie of the Most Fraternal Order of Correct and Male Members
Ordained Successor to our Head Honcho, Hung Long, of the Most Fraternal
Order of Correct and Male Members
Appointed Secret Shopper for Fruit of the Loom (Hail and Welcome Panty
Priders)
Your Local Co-ordinator for Pooh-bah Pride Day