Summer Solstice and the Element of Fire

Often called Midsummer, the Summer Solstice arrives around the 21st of June. The sun is at the height of it's power and it's a time of abundance, fertility and the bounty of nature. Soon the harvest will come.  In the area where I live, it signifies the beginning of summer, as well as the arrival of fire season. I have great respect for the element of fire. Not only am I an astrological fire sign, but as a witch, I find myself employing this elemental ally in many of my workings.

As most of us know, fire can be a powerful and destructive element, as well as that which motivates us to action. I'm sure you are familiar with the term, "fire in the belly." Fire burns at the core of our Earth Mother, and fire burns within each of us.

Fire is the closest thing to the living spirit in our physical world. The discovery of fire changed us. We could now be a direct participant in our fate. It separated us from the cold, illuminated the darkness and protected us from other animals.

In spirit work, fire conjure is done by setting the lights. Known to most as candle magick. Although practiced under many names, candle magick is the most widely used by several spiritual traditions. Candles are lit for blessing, healing, banishing and a myriad of other workings.

It is fire, or the "fire within" that moves us. Passion is fire and that which we are most passionate about, calls us to action. It stirs deep within us and intensifies at some of our finest moments. But we must take care that it doesn't burn out of control and lead to obsession.

Our energy is our fire. The Witch Flame is the "summoning" and gathering of this energy and when released we refer to it as The Cone of Power. Thru movement, emotion, dance, and or song, we raise up our inner fire, swirling withing us and send it out to aid our working. This electric fire of the Witch's will is the same that flows within our planet.

Using fire in spirit work and magick has a long rich history due to it's life-force and the direct cord that flows from our heart to the heart of the planet.
Working with the Balefire (life flame) we call forth the life-force of the land, the sun and all of creation.
The Boon-fire is also known as the "wish flame" Either by out-door fire or within a cauldron, the flame lends it's power to the desire of the witch. It symbolizes the union of the Mother & Father God/Spirit. The boon-fire is an open door to spirit and the eternal stream of starlight.
Bone-fire is an honoring flame. Ancestral outdoor fires link the present to our lineage that shapes and informs us. Traditionally, the bone-fire contains the dried/aged bones of animals we have consumed that have been allowed to dry for at least a year. Bone fires are generally used at Samhain.
The Bonfire is the meeting place for the spirits of witchery. Big and bright, it's a portal for the witch to commune with light, dark and shadow lands of the soul. This fire is the flame of spiritual communion. Fire connects the core of the Earth to the lights of our Universe. The flame holds wisdom.

Fire is also a gatherer of souls... the campfire has long been a place of fellowship, story telling and the sharing of food. Fire brings us together and bares witness to our bonding over her hypnotic dance under the stars.

When constructing your fire, consider your intent when choosing what you want to use for burning, different woods have different associations. Adding dried herbs are used for cleansing and consecrating the space. I grow white sage and the dried hard wood trimmings make an excellent space smudge.

Fire is the source of our Creation. May we always have reverence for this sacred resource and love for all it gives us.

The Simple Beauty of Sacred Motherhood

Where does one even begin with expressing the sheer brilliance of this book. 
 Let's start with the basics, shall we...

 Sacred Motherhood was beautifully written by Anni Daulter and Niki Dewart. In lieu of traditional chapters, they sectioned the book into 4 parts based on the Season of the year and 52 easy to read weeks. The pages are full color and illustrated with beautifully inspirational photography, along with a couple pages for journaling at the end of each week.

Now that I have covered that, let's delve a little deeper. This is not just another book on parenting. Yes, in each week there are suggestions for activities and mindful parenting, but this book is about you - The Mother. More importantly, it's about you as a woman stepping into the roll as Mother and the Sacredness of the journey.  This, I feel, is where parenting books fall short. But Anni and Niki have done a lovely job at focusing on guiding the reader on living each day in sacredness and beauty. The art and inspiration lends itself to Eastern Philosophy and the Divine Feminine, but this is a very personal book and the teachings can be personalized to whatever Spiritual or Religious practice you follow. As you weave your way through the pages, your heart opens to the Great Web that binds us together. Turning with the seasons you will learn ways to nourish yourself and your relationship as a mother and partner, both body & soul. Everyday tasks become an act of sacredness. Week after week, the conversation unfolds deep lessons from the readings to the self discovery of journaling. Anni & Niki artfully explore ways in which you can approach motherhood with grace and reverence.  

As for those weekly readings, did I mention they are short and easy to read. However, this is where the genius comes in. When you sit with the reading and actually apply it to your daily life, you realize that you are digging deeper into yourself, your spiritual life, and your journey as a Mother. 52 beautifully challenging weeks of total immersion into Sacred Motherhood. Once finished, you may want to keep it handy! 
As a Mother who raised her kids to adulthood, I could have read this over again just to stay inspired and connected. I plan on trying it as a Grandmother, since that is a whole new uncharted journey on the horizon soon.

 Having spent the majority of my adult life in Women's Healthcare, I can't begin to express how our culture forgets the importance of nurturing the Mother. Yet the bar of expectation is high for her right after she leaves from giving birth. If you are fortunate enough to have a nurturing support system then you are blessed and this book will help you to stay inspired through the days of little sleep, or "job" burnout.

 But if you are like most women, this book could very well be your lifeline!  I would be remiss not to mention that it doesn't stop there. Over the past few years, Anni has worked diligently to create and online network through Social Media that consists of all types of women who are on the same journey. If you are not familiar with her work, I encourage you to jump feet first into the rabbit-hole!

The release date is July 5th, 2016 and you can click (HERE) for the Amazon link.

May you be ever Blessed in wonderment and love through this amazing journey we call Motherhood.

For more beauty-filled morsels, check these out...

Touch the Sacred

How do you define Sacred?

Wikipedia says:

Sacred means revered due to association with holiness. Holiness, or sanctity, is in general the state of being holy (perceived by religious individuals as associated with divinity) or sacred (considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspiring awe or reverence among believers).

From an anthropological or atheistic perspective, the religious view of the sacred is a perspective on a culture's collection of thoughts and practices that function as a basis for the community's social structure.

Objects are often considered holy or sacred if used for spiritual purposes, such as the worship or service of gods. The property is often ascribed to people ("a holy man", a "holyprophet" who is venerated by his followers), objects (a "sacred artifact" that is venerated and blessed), times ("holy days"), or places ("holy places", "sacred ground").

Most often we associate the term Sacred as something outside of ourselves. An object, or a place. But how often do we feel the sacredness in our being, our form, our movement. We are Sacred, and as such, worthy of veneration. Body and soul, we must honor ourselves and each other. 

You are Sacred!

Hear me when I tell you that each woman can walk the path of a Priestess. 

Wait... Let me say that again... YOU ARE SACRED!

Let your feet take each step with the reverence and awareness of your very special purpose in the Web of Life. Honor and Nurture your Body.  Through your Womb, or your Womb space, you are connected to every Sister on the planet, as well as every woman who walked before you. There is so much deep wisdom in your blood, let it flow. 

Your bones hold the knowledge of the Ancients, and your Breath speaks forth the magick of healers past. 

You are Woman, and You are Sacred my Sweet Sisters.

-Awen

What is a Mother Roaster

Whenever I encounter someone who is unfamiliar with the term Mother Roasting I seem to get the same questions. Men are the first ones to envision turning some poor woman on a spit over and open fire, and are even more perplexed when I respond with "yes, it's sort of like that." It's not of course, but it certainly gets their attention.

Mother Roasting is the simple act of keeping the postpartum Mother warm. Primarily practiced in Asian and Indian cultures, it is believed that the process of childbirth is cooling to the body and by warming the Mother during the postpartum period aids in healing and restoring homeostasis.

In many cultures, after a woman gives birth, the other women in the family or tribe gather together to take care of the Mother and infant. Modern life has disregarded or forgotten this nurturing custom. The 4th Trimester is a vital time in the emotional, physical, and spiritual "closing" of the birth journey.

Often, women are left feeling overwhelmed and alone after the birth of a child. Post Partum Doulas/Mother Roasters have reclaimed the tradition of caring for new Mothers, providing services to aid in the transition after birth. Women "mothering" women can help prevent "baby blues" and postpartum depression thru emotional support, nourishing foods, and herbal treatments.

"When looking at birth from anthropological perspective, it seems that women in traditional societies commonly not only had relatively easy births, but also enjoyed rapid and complete recoveries with minimal complications, especially in regard to postpartum blood loss. Also, rarely were there problems with breast-milk production (Lang 1987)." - Natural Health after Birth: Complete Guide to Postpartum Wellness by Aviva Jill Romm

"Worldwide, women in all cultures are encouraged to lie-in during the weeks following birth, allowing other women in their community to take care of them, nourishing, massaging, binding, bathing, and loving on them. They treat the mother with reverence and respect, giving her a safe space to focus solely on her own bodies needs and her babies needs. This alone, without any pomp and ritual, will help a woman to 'come back to' society quicker, by giving her grace and understanding to take a moment to claim and process the recent events and new life she is entrusted with."

-http://wonderfullymadebelliesandbabies.blogspot.com/2013/10/mother-roasting.html

www.SacredWomanRising.com