Samhain 2014 - Glastonbury Goddess Temple

Goddess Temple News
SAMHAIN 2014
Donations Welcome
The Goddess Temple,
2-4 High Street,
Glastonbury, BA6 9DU
www.goddesstemple.co.uk
From the beginning of September, the
Glastonbury Goddess Temple has
been registered to conduct weddings.
Our Melissa Mother, Priestess Dawn
Kinsella will be undertaking a year of
training / shadowing with an existing
Registrar, in order to become our very
own Registrar for the Temple, together
with Katie Player, who will become the
assistant Registrar. Kathy and Mike
Marry in the Temple
It feels only right that the first couple to marry in the Temple are our
Temple Creative Director, Kathy Jones and her long term partner Mike.
They are the first couple to not only legally marry in the Temple, but also
to make their vows before Goddess using a beautifully written Goddess
ceremony conducted by a Priestess of Avalon. They married on the
afternoon of the 23rd October, and I am sure you will join us in wishing
them every personal joy and happiness following this herstoric public
event. Lorraine and Lisa, Co-Editors.
Original artwork by Tiana
Walking with Death – The Crone Goddess Conference
It is raining, tears of the Goddess after a week of deep heat in the roof of the Rhiannon Temple where I am honoured to stay. Washing
cauldron of Glastonbury Goddess Conference. There has been a away to be renewed again.
shift in Mother Nature and a shift in me. Coming to this Conference The magical doorway that has opened since Jenny’s death, since
being in Glastonbury doing the energetic work
the day after Jenny, my mother –in-law’s funeral
of a Cauldron Priestess in the south, holding the
– I knew it was going to be a deep experience for
cauldron of tears. Goddess knows ! The gift she
me. I walked the death road and back to life.
has taught me this year in total preparation for
I thought I had cried my tears, I thought I had
all of this has been to get myself out of the way,
said my goodbyes, as I Priestessed her for 8 days
control, expectations, thinking I am in charge of
in hospital. She fell and banged her head at home,
my own life ! We have been trying to move for 18
a blood clot on her brain that burst. She drifted
months, our house sale fell through just before
in and out of consciousness she was aware. We
Christmas. This sent me into the void place, the
sang to her, my daughters and I, Jess and Beth,
place of surrender and not knowing. We then put
my sister in law Seersha. We kept sacred space.
our house up for rent, and we know why we did
She had a beautiful death, slow on the death road
not move, we needed to be in Kent for Jenny, her
to start, she fought it, she was scared … She was
passing and sorting out her affairs. The day before
never alone, she was never alone in the room. We
the funeral we had an offer from tenants on our
took shifts between the family, and I love them so
house, whilst in Glastonbury for conference I
much for that.
popped into a letting agent I had 10 mins spare.
Grief is such a deep emotion. There is always
Sewing my square on the death
I asked if they had anything, he said yes, this has
more, more opening, more tears. A deep pool
road before I went into Seventh
just come up in Roman way. We went to have
of grief. It is the physical loss, even with my
Wave Music : Nigel Shaw &
a look straight away, and I knew. I knew it was
strong spiritual beliefs that our beloveds who
Carolyn Hillyer exhibition in the
the right location, views across the levels, view of
have passed over are just a touch away through
Assembly Rooms. Powerful,
the Tor herb garden, a safe nest for Rod and I on
the veils. I see them, I feel them, but I miss her
healing, gratitude for the ritual
physical touch. Knowing that I will never be held spaces being held so carefully and the edge of the cauldron, the swan’s neck dragons
back ! We moved in on the 21st August.
again in Jenny’s arms. During the Crone Crowning
with love. Thank you all for
Trust, surrender, allowing. Thank you to all
ceremony, all those beautiful women who sat on
witnessing my grief. xx
those seen and unseen who stepped into my life
the stage to be honoured. To me, they were like
during Conference and were there when I needed a hug, a hand to
living icons on my altar. I honour them, we all honour them.
My experiences in the House of Weavers installation of Carolyn hold, a cup of tea, glass of wine. Goddess helps to make life more
Hillyer was overpowering. As I walked into the room, the dark, huge real, Goddess helps us to experience life more fully in our bodies,
wise women. They carried the energies and archetypes of forest, with all our emotions, right here, right now.
dusk, mountains, tundra, waters, desert Their beautiful wisdom With Goddess as my witness I vow to walk the life road with
shone through. I crawled my way around, full of snot and tears and all my enthusiasm, commitment, love, integrity, humility and
deep, deep lamenting sobs. For all of those who have gone before compassion. I love my life, my one precious life in this body.
separation, slow deaths, quick deaths. When I finished I was held
so beautifully energetically and physically. I thank the sistars of the Blessed Be, Angie Twydall
Priestess of Rhiannon
hearth for holding sacred space.
Where do we lament now ? Where do we do our howling and Womb Wisdom Keeper
crying ? Where do we release our tears and pain ? We do it when Creatrix at www.theblessed-bee.co.uk
it comes, we allow it to come and flow through the whole of our
body. Giving it back to Goddess. She is beating down now on the
Lavender and Roses
Therapy Studio for Women
• Aromatherapy. • Hot Stone Massage •
• Lomi Lomi • Thai Foot Massage •
£40 for 2 hour session • Combination treatments £50
Special rates for priestesses of Glastonbury Goddess Temple
I offer generous concessions for women on low income / benefits For more info please see my website
www.lavenderandrosesmassage.co.uk
I also offer a unique approach to tarot reading
Reading will be free until June, thereafter £25.
To book an appointment call Stephanie 07940 006 637
Some of the amazing Crones at their Honouring Ceremony.
Call to Avalon
You could say it was more of a hollering
than a calling, “Oi you … get here now !”
No whispering on the wind from the
Morrigan I’m afraid. She stormed right in,
grabbed the back of my collar and dragged
me down that motorway from Essex to
Glastonbury.
Looking back, there wasn’t much choice
in the matter. I didn’t know at the time that
I had one. It was a bit like labour … the urge
was so strong I could do nothing else but
give in to the force of Her nature. She who
must be obeyed !
You know what I mean don’t you ? It
wasn’t until I arrived and met all the other
women who’d experienced variations on a
similar theme that I realised I wasn’t alone.
Everyone has their own story and for many
the pull has been so strong they’ve upped
sticks and moved there. Now that I’ve been,
I’m getting the picture.
Until the beginning of this year, I’d never
set foot in Avalon. I landed at the Goddess
Temple shop with my sister Tania to a warm
welcome from a petite and smiling Dawn
Kinsella who gave gentle but firm instructions
to go up to the Goddess Temple and
ground ourselves after ‘landing’. Nice idea,
but really ? I was energised beyond belief
that only a sledgehammer could sort out.
Tania and I had come to promote our
self-published Magic of Nature Oracle deck
at a town hall event and had been directed
to Dawn who turned out to be a charming
hostess and promoter extraordinaire. Not
only did she extend the hand of friendship,
welcome us into the Sisterhood, put us up
and show us around but also helped with
introductions which led to stocking the
Temple shop with our cards and securing
a gig booking at the King Arthur with my
band Morrigans Path.
I sailed back to Essex on a cloud, full of
inspiration – which I poured into my song
writing – and the title track of our debut
album ; Call to Avalon was born.
I came back with the ‘Morrigans’ at
Beltane, released the cd at the King Arthur
gig and the Temple shop kindly agreed to
stock some copies. It was a short-lived but
magical time, and playing our music and
dragging my husband Ian up the Tor in the
early hours of the next day was priceless.
And yes, I’ve been back again since, to
Melissa at the Conference – an unforgettable
week and well worth the guilt of leaving the
husband at home with the kids. So much
I learned. It was truly a privilege to share
sacred space, to dive deep into the cauldron
and experience the magic with so many
open hearted and empowered souls.
Meanwhile, Goddess roars and Avalon
calls louder than ever … the cards are doing
well and Morrigans Path have another
booking at the King Arthur in the next few
months. That is, if I can wait that long.
Estate agents ? I never said that … no I
didn’t.
Blessings, Sheena )O(
www.morriganspath.com
© Sheena Cundy 2014
www.themagicofnatureoracle.com
www.sheenacundy.weebly.com
A group of 15 Spanish, Portuguese, Brazilian women walked from Iona to Glastonbury representing Mothers and children.
They brought their Flame to add to the Flame of Avalon, on Friday 12th September at 6.00pm, in the Goddess Temple.
Goddess Temple Poetry
The Cauldron Cracks –
Lake Bala, N.Wales – Autumn 2014
It does not matter how.
It just is. Shadowy figures
Their cloaks damp with dew
Arise to stir the cauldron
Amongst the gathering dark
And the mist rising from the lake.
Intentions, struggles, triumphs –
All are there – stir them well
For they represent the part of you
That longs to go home.
Keredwen is mighty and glorious here
Her breath is in the wind
And Her stillness is in the hearts
Of those that know Her.
Do not think this is about love –
It is older than that.
It is as old as the mountains
Now in their autumn colours –
As old as your longing.
And when your cauldron cracks
And drenches your flower beds
Your neatly tended spaces –
What then ?
She has come to claim you
As Her Priestess. That is all.
It does not matter why,
It just is.
Lorraine Pickles
Priestess of Avalon, Co-Editor, Goddess Temple News.
The Hag of all you Fear
Naked and hairy. Wrinkled and scarey.
I am a wirey spiteful face.
I am everything lacking grace.
I am what you left behind.
I am what you seek but never find.
I am everything I fear to be.
I am everything I think is Me.
I am the end and the beginning.
I am lost without ever winning.
I am standing outside the first gate.
I am all you could ever hate.
I am the toothless haggard features.
I am the dark and despised creatures.
I am bones and hair and jaw.
I am not anything you adore.
I am the hag of all you fear.
I am yourself and I am right here.
I am bitter and alone.
I am jaw and hair and bone.
I am past and I am new life.
I am what was once a herb wife.
I am ugly beyond form.
I am beauty now reborn.
I am memory, I am of yore.
I am now all the things my heart adores.
I am fate and I am history.
I am a soul reborn in her history xxx
And most of all …
I forgive every judgement made by me on me xxx
Charlie Garland, Melissa
Lake Bala, Wales
The Crone
I am old
I am not as young as I used to be
I am bigger and more shiny
But sometimes I am not so well and sometimes my memory goes …
I am old and wise.
I am old
I am a grandparent …
I teach you my skills
I am the grandfather who teaches you to play chess and fun games
I am the grandmother who makes good cakes and vegetable soup.
I am old
I will teach you to make bread and lavender cake
I will teach you how to knit, plait and weave
I have the time to pass down my ancient skills
I tell you stories of long ago, about the past.
My hard work made it possible for you to be who you are
I am your kind and loving grandparent.
I am old
I am the Crone
I am made of skin and bone
With my wrinkled hands I stir the Cauldron of Love
My cape is black as space
Mt wrinkled face concentrates on transforming all that is.
My Cauldron is a whirlpool of love, life and knowledge.
Glastonbury Goddess Conference.
Children and Young People’s Workshop 2014
Co-created by Beth, Holly, Arianrhod, Morrigan, Amma,
Willow, Elfina, Oona and Mariella.
-------------------------------------During this years Crone Conference the young people at the Young
People’s Workshops spent a morning sitting in circle discussing
ageing, our grandparents and memories of grandparents, and The
Crone. From the discussion about the wisdom of grandparents,
ageing and aspects of the Crone and what She means to us this
poem was crafted. It is evocative of living and growing older, the
wonderous gift of knowledge and time that grandparents share
with us and an exploration of the Crone wisdom. Once created the
young people agreed movements for each verse, and through this
co-creating journey the poem was danced, allowing exploration
through both words and movement, allowing all of those present
to immerse themselves in the knowledge, wisdom and experience
held within the poem.
Lisa Newing, Steph Mathivet and Kaye Cooksey
Young People’s Workshop facilitators.
Original artwork by Tiana
www.tianaart.com
Tiana’s art is also available from www.goddesstemplegifts.co.uk
Cerridwen Walks the Land
Cerridwen walks the land this Samhain. I hear Her crone song in steaming stew with crusty bread – telling more stories – before we
the wind-drift of the trees, I see Her dance in the flight of the geese, opened the circle.
the scurry of the nut-gatherers, the winter-readiers. I feel Her in the Gathering empty bowls and staffs and drums, we disappeared
anticipation of freezing air, a sudden solar stream of late warmth. into the night, richer for the meal we created together, but especially
I know Her, as we clean up the garden after a bountiful season, for the relevance and reverence of ritual, proof that, however simple,
enrich the earth, trim our Rose of Sharon bushes, plant garlic and ritual has such value in our lives, both in community, and in solitary
daffodil bulbs to herald a colourful spring – and tulip bulbs which times.
will eventually be dug up by hungry chipmunks. We know that, but We celebrated the Crone at our 19th Goddess Conference this
my inner crone tells me to plant them anyway. The cycle of life year. She danced wildly, She shared Her life’s wisdom in so many
deep ways, She led us down the Death
must go on.
Road, and back again to red sparkling life.
At the edge of our small piece
We owe it to Her to live that life with as
of land sits a double row of trees,
much authenticity, passion and creativity
separating us from the farmer’s field
as we can. May we all listen to Her
beyond, where coyotes howl at
wisdom and think of Her this Samhain
midnight. Between those trees breathes
with compassion, understanding, and
an entire ecosystem. Sometimes we
love. Accept Her into our lives, into our
hear a collision of power with rustles
souls.
and yelps, a slithering over dry leaves,
the tumbling crash of a dead branch
Blessed be,
joining the composting undergrowth,
Roz Bound – Conference Elder
then silence. Life stories we’ll never
know. Every creature, rock and tree
cohabiting, each acting out its own
essence, not questioning its destiny.
Support
We have planted ivies, forget-me-nots,
the Goddess Temple
wild strawberries on its borders. They
spill out into our garden, bridging the
Giving Your Time and Energy
gap between the wild and the tamed.
The Goddess Temple is open to
Crone energy dwells in that space :
the public seven days a week with
our rain forest, our jungle, our savanna
volunteer Temple Melissas looking
- the transition between here and there,
after the space while it is open. All
yesterday and tomorrow, life and death.
kinds of people come to the Temple,
The crones in our community gather
some experiencing a Goddess Sacred
often to talk about life transitions,
Space for the first time, and many
discuss caring for Mother Earth, the
Goddess pilgrims who come to
meaning of life and death, planning
bathe in Her loving energy, to attend
rituals to mark the seasons. Ten of us
Ceremonies and Healing Days. We
recently celebrated a friend’s eightieth
always need more volunteer Temple
Original artwork by Tiana
birthday with a ritual at the new moon.
Melissas. If you would like to become
www.tianaart.com
From planning to manifestation it was
a Melissa and can offer two or more
full of meaning, collaboration and joy.
hours of your time regularly to
Bringing staffs and drums, we gathered in our friend’s home at care for this beautiful sacred space. Contact Dawn Kinsella –
the witching hour. Singing Old Women Are Watching, we processed dawnkinsella@hotmail.co.uk.
to the kitchen where we cast the circle, passing around a red thread
and chanting our matrilineal lines before we called in the elements, Become a Temple Madron
absent friends, Cerridwen, Kali and Hestia. Within the circle, each Make a monthly standing order donation to the Goddess Temple
woman brought her favourite bowl to the oiled cauldron in turn to help cover our regular monthly costs. Any amount you can
– bowls full of chopped onions, aubergines, courgettes, tomatoes, donate will support the Temple. As a Temple Madron you will
garlic, peppers. Ruby-red wine and sprinkled spices were stirred receive our Temple Newsletter four times a year, plus invitations
in, as was story-telling, every contribution leading to memories, to special yearly Madrons, Friends and Melissa days where
synchronicities, family wisdoms. The didgeridoo’s wail welcomed Goddess speakers and presenters will delight and entertain
each addition, wooden spoons stirred in our intentions, and we told you. Please see details on the Temple website: http://www.
more stories. Sacred stories. Women’s stories.
goddesstemple.co.uk/index.php/how-you-can-help.
A delicious ratatouille evolved, Hestia’s alchemy in the red
cauldron (my Le Creuset pot !) As it simmered, we escaped into Make standing orders to The Glastonbury Goddess Temple,
the lakeside garden and circling our friend, now in her ninth decade, Sort Code : 40-22-07 Account No. : 21374532. Let us
we raised a cone of energy, singing We are Women of Radiance. We know your address for newsletters by emailing : info@
gifted her with wise words of hope and encouragement on her goddesstemple.co.uk.
journey. Then we gathered around the table to eat bowlfuls of our
Goddess Alive in Iberia-Land !
Goddess in Spain has had a glorious past and visitors can still
admire the remnants of many Temples of many Goddesses that
have been venerated over the past several millennia all over the
Iberian peninsula (Spain and Portugal).
For years Goddess-loving people in Spain (and Portugal, but
that’s another article to be written by the Portuguese sisters) have
been reconnecting with and reclaiming this glorious past for our
present and future. The result is a young, and yet very old, lively
spiritual tradition and a growing community honoring the Goddess
in Her many forms in many ways.
and the Lady of Avalon. There, the Flames of Iberia and of Avalon
were lit and both Iberia and the Lady were embodied. A month
later, on the occasion of her Madrid workshops, Starhawk visited
the Temple and lit the Flame of Reclaiming.
And the future looks bright … a new group of students will start
their Priestess training at Samhain. More exciting plans for 2015
include the Goddess Festival at Mabon 2015 in Madrid and a twoweek Earth Activist Training conducted by Starhawk in August 2015.
Goddess is indeed alive in Iberialand again.
Anna de Iberia
The new Sisters and Brothers of Avalon 2014
Avalon has been a cornerstone in this development for many
of us, either through frequent visits to Glastonbury or through the
training as Priestesses of Avalon. The deep transformation effected
through this connection has enabled us to accelerate the process of
reclaiming our own Goddess heritage. Reclaiming-Spain (based on
Starhawk’s teachings) has been another cornerstone preparing the
ground for many years.
We celebrated two Goddess Conferences in Madrid, in 2010
and 2011, during the first of which the ancient Goddess Iberia came
to life again in a deeply moving ceremony. A core group of nine
Priestesses of Iberia dedicated themselves in 2011 and re-created
the Sacred Flame of Iberia (which has been added to the Flame of
Avalon in 2012). Since then, we have created the Iberian Mystery
School (Escuela de Misterios de Iberia) which offers a three-year
(three-spiral) in-person training of Priestesses and Priests of Iberia.
Our most recent Third Spiral initiation was celebrated in the newly
inaugurated Madrid Goddess Temple, where Iranzu and Saucco
de Trivia (who both danced at the 2013 Glastonbury Goddess
Conference, so you may know them) dedicated themselves as
Priestess and Priest of Iberia.
The Madrid Goddess Temple was inaugurated on 15 June 2014,
it is the first in modern times. We owe it to the lucky “coincidence”
and support of Elen Lo (owner of the space) and Katie Player
(providing support in Melissa training) and the additional generous
support of Saucco, Jana de Madrid, Isabeau, Sainda, Iranzu in the
refurbishment, temple decoration, and day-to-day running. The
Temple is currently open on weekends and Friday afternoons. It
offers regular seasonal celebrations and moon rituals, embodiments,
as well as workshops on a wide range of Goddess-related topics.
The central altar integrates the energies of Goddess Iberia
(represented by the golden statue of the Dama de Elche) and of the
Lady of Avalon (represented by Caroline Lir’s painting). Overall the
Temple is decorated in the colors of Iberia : gold, red, and purple.
The opening ceremony was a shared honoring of Goddess Iberia
Newly initiated priestesses and Priests of the Goddess 2014
Swansea Monthly Goddess Temples
On the 13th September 2014 the Goddess community in
Swansea opened the first of many monthly Goddess Temples.
The Temple was decorated with nine altars around the room,
one in the centre dedicated to the local Goddess Gwyr, and
another encompassed within a fabric shrine dedicated to
Banbha. Mandy Skeels worked effortlessly to create beautiful
Goddess banners foreach altar, and was assisted in decorating a
selection of them by Nia Priday, Olivia Church and Oli Taylor. In
the evening a Banbha ceremony was held, calling in the Wheel
of Ana and including an intensely heart warming embodiment.
The Swansea Goddess Temple will be set up monthly for the
local community and any who wish to visit. We are greatly
inspired and appreciative of the Glastonbury Goddess Temple
and its Priestesses and Priests who have been so supportive
towards us. This is a heart felt and emotional project for the
Swansea Goddess community which we really believe in. We
are manifesting Goddess in this beautiful landscape once again !
DISCOVERY
With Michelle Patten,
Priestess of Avalon,
Priestess of Rhiannon
Come and find Goddess in the Land,
in yourself and in each other. Sing, dance, play,
share, create and craft to express Her energy !
Discover more about Her and about yourself
as she walks beside and within you.
A four-day training in Glastonbury for those stepping
onto the path of Goddess spirituality.
Four days over four months OR four consecutive days (below)
2015 – 16th to 19th June inclusive
Saturday 17 January 2015
Working with Goddess as Maiden and with the blessing of Fire
Saturday 21 February 2015
Working with Goddess as Lover and with the blessing of Water
Saturday 21 March 2015
Working with Goddess as Mother and with the blessing of Earth
Saturday 18 April 2015
Working with Goddess as Crone and with the blessing of Air
photo: Rob Wildwood
Venues in Glastonbury
Contact : denhamhouse@yahoo.com
01458 835086 / 07542 946776
Michelle Patten, Priestess of Avalon
http://www.goddesstemple.co.uk
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“Celebrate the Goddess within you!”
November 21/22/23
2014
With an on the fringe Goddess journey in Belgium on the 20 th
With as special guest Kathy Jones and lots of other interesting people such as
Erin McCauliff, Lieve Volcke, Marion Brigantia, Anna Saqquara, Luiza Frazao. Lina
Spirou, Luna Silver, Katie Player, Saucco de Trivia and more...
Come and meet the Goddesses of the Wheel of the Belgae and discover Their
energy and Their power. They welcome you in a magical landscape with a lake and
an isle of deep knowing...
Tickets € 300.-
(free accomodation in communal areas of 12. incl breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Dance
Masked ball
Joy
Love
Unity
Workshops
Chanting
Ceremonies
Presentations
Friendship
Full information and bookings on www.inthelightofthegoddess.com
E-mail lieveke_volcke@hotmail.com, tel 0032 498 042 493
Address The Outsider (Vlaamse Ardennen, Oudenaarde, Belgium)
Editors, Lorraine Pickles & Lisa Newing, Priestesses of Avalon • design by Paul Williment, e-mail : brighid.design@mac.com