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Saturday, June 26, 2021
ASWM 2021 Virtual Conference: Celebrating the Work of Marija Gimbutas
Monday, June 21, 2021
Summer Solstice 2021
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| Found at the Chalice Well in Glastonbury, UK. |
In Ursula Leguin's Earthsea Novels, the Summer Solstice is celebrated by dancing "the Long Dance" all night, to watch the sun rise in the morning. Something many do on this planet as well, and still. I have done so myself. I wish all the Blessings of the Day, and may we each find a way to "dance the Long Dance" together in body or in spirit this sacred and most primeval day. Here (again, and again) is the poem I share on such days, because the words and harp of the poet will always arise as I look out at the rising sun on the Solstice, the "World's Self Seen" in all of Her abundance, no matter where I am. "Every blue yonder Her brass harp rings" for those who can stop, who will listen to the deep throb of the Heartbeat, to the Harp strings sounding. "She will seal us with Her seed", the poet tells us, and this, strangely, is the taste of immortality I experience, each Solstice, when I stop to listen to the Song that Walks among us.
Every morning when I rise with the sun to water my garden, and especially this morning, I find myself talking to all the people that live there. The tall sunflowers, making seeds beloved by finches and sparrows. The desert tortoise who has decided to live here. My cats, and the green scarab beetles getting drunk on tree sap. The bees, having a drink at the bird bath, and the hummingbird. All the beings sensed and unseen, but friendly somehow too. As a child, the garden was full of "people" for me to visit, and now, an old woman, I seem to have returned again to that happy experience, unconcerned with what others think, and increasingly tired of all my human "identities" at last. So much is possible by just shifting the way we see things, from an "it" to a "you". When we "see with a Webbed Vision". The world becomes again conversant. I think (again) of a story by Ursula Leguin called "May's Lion" that speaks so eloquently to that power of naming. But let the rest of this post belong (again) to the Poet, Robin Williamson. And the Glory of the Summer Solstice!
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| Summer Solstice, Brushwood, 2008 |
Verses from Powis
I am a lover of the steady Earth
And of Her waters.
She says: “Let the light be brilliant,
for those who will cherish color.”
What if there be no Heaven?
She says: “Touch my Breasts - the fields are golden.”
Her Songs are all of love, lifelong.
Every blue yonder, Her brass harp rings.
Unlettered, in Her rivers our cherished sins
Drift voiceless in Her clouds.
She will rust us with blossom
She will forgive us
She will seal us
with Her seed.
Robin Williamson
You that create the diversity of the forms:
Open to my words
You that divide it and multiply it
Hear my sounds
Ancient associates and fellow wanderers
You that move the heart in fur and scale
I join with you
You that sing bright and subtle
Making shapes
that my throat cannot tell
Making shapes
that my throat cannot tell
You that harden the horn
And make quick the eye
You that run the fast fox
and the zigzag fly
You sizeless makers of the mole
And of the whale: aid me and I will aid you
and the zigzag fly
You sizeless makers of the mole
And of the whale: aid me and I will aid you
You that lift the blossom
and the green branch
You who make symmetries more true
Who dance in slower time
and the green branch
You who make symmetries more true
Who dance in slower time
Who watch the patterns
You rough coated
Who eat water
Who stretch deep and high
With your green blood
My red blood
With your green blood
My red blood
let it be mingled
Aid me and I will aid you
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I call upon you
You who are unconfined
Who have no shape
Who are not seen
Who have no shape
Who are not seen
But only in your action
I will call upon you
I will call upon you
You who have no depth
But choose direction
Who bring what is willed
That you blow love
upon the summers of my loved ones
That you blow summers
upon those loves of my love
Aid me and I will aid you
That you blow love
upon the summers of my loved ones
That you blow summers
upon those loves of my love
Aid me and I will aid you
I make a pact with you
You who are the liquid
Of the waters
And the spark of the flame:
Of the waters
And the spark of the flame:
I call upon you
And guard the growth of the growing things
I make peace with you
You who are the blueness of the blue sky
And the wrath of the storm
I take the cup with you
And the wrath of the storm
I take the cup with you
Earth shakers
And with you
the sharp and the hollow hills
I make reverence to you
the sharp and the hollow hills
I make reverence to you
Round wakefulness
We call the Earth
I make wide eyes to you
You who are awake
Every created thing
both solid and sleepy
Or airy light,
I weave colors 'round you
You who will come with me
I will consider it Beauty
I will consider it
Beauty, beauty
Published by WARLOCK MUSIC, LTD.
Friday, June 11, 2021
Guest House
The Guest-House
This being human is a guest-house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you
out for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
Found: A Book for Spider Woman
I'm at a funky hot spring I sometimes go to when I need to, and this morning I saw a beautiful snake curled up by my campsite. Determining that it was not a rattle snake, I watched it unwind, flash its forked tongue at me a few times, and then spiral away slowly into the bushes. I felt quite graced by that presence! Which may or may not have anything to do with finding another "book that never happened" in my Blog, and wanting to share it again, as well as to remind myself to not let it just vanish. It was a proposal for a book arts residency that I didn't get. I really should see about just finishing the book myself somehow........................
Nov. 17, 2017
This is the time of year I go through the tedious process of applying for things, which I try not to be disappointed by when the rejections roll in. I figure it's kind of like "artist Bingo".......sometimes you win. And I've "won" a few times in the past, and been fortunate to have some great residencies and even a few awards and fellowships. So this was an application to make an artist's book in the spring at the Women's Studio Center in New York. Usually I tear my hair out when I make these applications, but this was fun!
A book would consist of no more than 20 pages all silk screened and hand bound, so the pages would really be part of a "bound theme show" in a way. I returned to my many years of devotion to the Legend of the Spider Woman in coming up with these prototypes for pages. With so much competition, I seriously doubt I'll be considered, but, the ideas were fun to make and who knows, maybe they could become a book anyway. I shall never tire of images that speak to me of the meaning of "A Webbed Vision".
All images are copyright Lauren Raine MFA (2017)
Wednesday, May 26, 2021
Two Mask Making Workshops Offered in the Fall
A Mask Intensive Workshop for Women
November 3 through 7, 2021
November 10 through 14, 2021
$400.00
(includes housing)
$200.00 without housing
I'm pleased to be able to offer 2 residential workshops in the Fall at last! In this 4 Day Mask Arts Intensive for Women we will draw on our mythic imaginations and the many faces of the Divine Feminine as we learn to make durable, professional theatrical masks. Is there a Goddess you wish to celebrate through the magic of the mask? And would you like to explore the use of sacred masks in storytelling, community arts, and ritual theatre? Open the conversation in this intensive workshop which includes housing if desired. Workshop is limited to 5 participants. We begin Thursday morning at 9:00 am and end Sunday afternoon at 5:00 pm. You take home the means to continue the work.
Housing is provided Wednesday nights through Monday mornings (5 nights). We are an AIRBNB Super Host "Enclave" and accommodations are comfortable and private. A $100.00 non-refundable deposit is required, and payment can be made through Paypal or by check. For further information or to reserve, please contact Lauren Raine at laurenraine9@gmail.com or call (520) 609-4904.
Lauren
Sunday, May 23, 2021
Lost Art.................
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| "Gaia" (1987) |
A lot of my body of work over the years has been lost or destroyed, and what I retain are photos. Lately I've felt like it's time to digitize some of those paintings or masks, to preserve them in someway. Just felt like posting a few of the "Lost" here..................many of them I have no idea where they went. But perhaps this post is a way of honoring them because I put so much work and intent into each one, and it makes me sad that too much moving around, no storage, lack of self esteem and hence respect for my own work, and sometimes the intentional destruction by a hostile family member......wasted them. But I'm glad that I have the photos at least!
The painting above was 9 feet by 4 feet, and was destroyed, as big paintings so often are, when there is no space to store or exhibit them. I worked so hard on that painting! I showed it only once, as part of my mid course MFA Show, it was accompanied by a spoken word musicalpiece called "When the Word for World Was Mother". I was very influenced then by the writings of Starhawk in The Spiral Dance , which ultimately led me into Pagan theology and community. Years later I would move to Berkeley, and end up renting a room from a woman who was one of the founders of Reclaiming Collective, Judy Foster. Because of Judy, I found myself working with Starhawk, her colleague Macha Nightmare, and Reclaiming on the 20th Annual Spiral Dance in San Francisco. The Masks of the Goddess Collection would be made for that event, and the first time they were performed.
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| "The Magician - Art" (1994) |
From the Rainbow Bridge Oracle, a Tarot deck I created more or less in the early 90's. Another life size oil painting, this time representing the Magician Tarot Card. Once it was taken off the stretchers to store, it was all over for the painting. I stopped doing big paintings after that! I envisioned the Magician invoking the white light of the Divine, the unified force, running it through his mind and heart with the power of his intention, and then manifesting on this plane of being the colors of the Rainbow spectrum, which is earthly life in all of its diversity. I used my then husband, Duncan, as the model, and I still feel it was very successful, getting across the concept I wanted to express about Art and Creation = Magic, as well as a pretty good portrait of him. It was also a way of honoring Duncan, but a bitter ending to the relationship never allowed me to let him know that.
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| "The Goddess" (1982) |
I painted this when I was living in Putney, Vermont, and it was based on photos I had by a friend from my earlier life in Berkeley, the artist John Hincks. I have used the photo in my Rainbow Bridge Oracle Deck, but the painting.......I have no idea where it went. I must have given it to someone when I left Vermont to move to Arizona for Graduate School? I learned to poo poo this painting as "pretty and decorative" once I got into Graduate School, where, in the 80's, and still so I believe, paintings must be political, shocking, intellectually obscure to prove they are "sophisticated", or best of all, dark enough in style and content to be "Meaningful". Now retired, I can make beautiful paintings that please me freely, and the heck with the "high" art world's ugly aesthetics! But I wish I'd kept this painting.................
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| "The Empress" (1976) |
One of the early Tarot paintings I did in the 70's when I lived in Berkeley. I look back at them and they were rather beautiful, if clumsy. This one was from a photo I took of a woman who lived in the warehouse/artist's studio building I lived in in Berkeley (there are pretty much no longer any such thing in Berkeley now thanks to gentrification). I had to take it off the stretchers, where it was rolled up with a bunch of large early paintings. I am saddened to say that I actually threw this painting away into a dumpster at a storage facility. More of the self hate I learned somewhere along the way. Someone somewhere might have enjoyed the painting. I like to hope someone saw the paintings in the dumpster and rescued them. A bad time in my life.
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| "Lilith" (1992) |
This one I really like, one of several paintings I did one long winter in 1993, when I lived in New York, using pieces of cut paper to frame the paintings. Always meant to continue the series but never did. This one I realize is not lost, but I sent it to the founder of the Lilith Institute in California, so it found a home! Huzzah! She even framed it!
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| untitled (1973?) |
I hauled this large painting around for years until, I believe, off the stretchers, it ended up in a dumpster in a storage facility. Once again, I'm sorry that I had so little respect for my work.
Someone might have enjoyed having this Elfin, Fey man.
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| "Day of Radience" (1986) |
One of the "New Age" paintings I did in Grad School when I was not only going to Grad School but also working with a group of artist friends while we explored some of the spiritual modalities enthusiastically available in the 80's, including past life regression. Alas, the painting is long gone who knows where, as are also those friends (except for one: glad you are still around Madeleine!)
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| "The High Priestess" (1975) |
Another of the life size large oil paintings I did when I lived in Berkeley, meant to be for the Tarot. Probably this painting, taken off the canvas and hauled around for years in a roll of canvases, ended up in the dumpster at a storage facility when I was unable to continue to keep the storage chamber. I am ashamed of that, because it was a beautiful painting of my friend the poet Felicia Miller, and I labored long and hard on it, and I should have valued it. At least I have a record of it.
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| "Three Roots of the Tree of Life" (1987) |
Part of a 3 part shrine I made as I became involved in Paganism in the early 80's - they were meant to represent the cycles of generation, reproduction, death and rebirth. I used to store my art in a closet in my mother's home - unfortunately my mentally ill brother destroyed it while I was gone. I stopped leaving any of my art at my mother's house after that. Once again, I forget how many of my paintings are "rooted".
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| "A House of Doors III" (1987) |
From my MFA Show, "A House of Doors", which also included a spoken word/musical piece inspired by Laurie Anderson called "A House of Doors". This painting, I believe, was destroyed by my brother, because it disappeared from my mother's house.
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| "Lovers" (1989) |
A strange painting, but I really liked it, although it is very clumsy in its composition. In the summer of 1989 I had a wonderful, magical residency at the Cummington Community in Western Massachusetts. For a month, surrounded by artists and writers and musicians in this (alas, now defunct) old artist's community, I was on fire creatively! And somewhat literally too, as the whole series of paintings I did then involved transformation and shamanic fire. I never showed any of them, to anyone, now that I think of it, but I guess I called them "The Shamanic Journey". This one came from a dream in which a man offered me fire. No idea where it went, but I think it was destroyed.
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| "A House of Doors" (1987) |
Title painting for my MFA Show, a big painting about 5 by 4. Later I used the image in my Tarot deck for "The Chariot", as it represents envisioning where we want to go, and spiritual progress. I love the image, which used a photo of Catherine Nash, an extraordinary artist I knew in Graduate School. I do remember that this one fell off the wall and right through a chair, so it was destroyed.
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| "Day of Radience II" (1987) |
Another version of this image from the 80's................I did lithos using it too. Part of the "A House of Doors" series.
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| "Guide" (1984) |
From the time of High New Age, an envisioning Higher and Lower Self communing. No idea where it went.
"Hecate" (1997)
This was an image that came to me when I was working on the Tarot paintings, the original (which I do have) became "The Hermit - Solitude". I felt that when we go through the dark times, the dark tunnels of our lives internally and externally, when we find our way out of those tunnels, out of the dark, we have a responsibility, or an opportunity, to "bear a light" for others to illuminate their paths. This can also translate into the meaning of Hecate, who guided Persephone out of the Underworld. She is the Goddess of the Crossroads who stands with her torch to light the way. It was a painting on paper, and I used myself as the model, hoping I think to invoke the guidance I profoundly needed at that particular, very difficult, time in my life.
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| "Transformation" (1989) |
This was the last of my "Shamanic Journey" paintings from my intense month at the Cummington Community, and I've always loved it, although no one else seems to like it as they seem to feel it is gruesome, or represents some kind of anti-abortion statement! Hardly! But not wishing to alarm those who came to visit me, I took it off my walls long ago and it seems to have disappeared. Yes, Stanley Kubrick used the fetus for his "Space Child" so I guess it's a cliche. But what I was talking about is the incubation and birth into a new state of elevated being..............the child, the soul, is wrapped in the fire of transformation. For me it's a deeply spiritual statement and I wish I had it still. But I seem to be the only one who thinks so!
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| Untitled (1977) |
This one I gave to a friend in Vermont - we fell out of touch, and I learned about 10 years ago that he had died. I used the photo of it in my Tarot deck for "The Fool", as it represented to me the Innocense that makes so much "impossible" possible!
Monday, May 17, 2021
Gather and Offer: A Story of the Gathering Basket
I remembered the other day an extraordinary poem gifted to me by Ilana Stein, who I met in one of the workshops I gave at the Kripalu Institute in 2008. Ilana was a retired midwife, renowned in her field, who had been undergoing cancer treatment when she decided to take a workshop at Kripalu. After the workshop she was on her way to California to spend time with her daughter. The poem, "Gather and Offer" she wrote during that 4 day workshop, in which she also made several masks that accompanied her work. Four months after meeting Ilana, I learned that she had died. I reflected then, as now, how beautiful her poem and my experience of working with her was, this woman who had spent her life bringing souls into this world, and preparing to leave it.
2008:
Ilana is a well known Midwife and Birth Coach from New York City. She is a slight woman with intense eyes, and her hair was gone sparse because she's been undergoing chemotherapy, which she shared as we began our introductory Circle.
We begin our four day process with a "shamanic journey" to the Underworld, to encounter the Goddess, in whatever form She may care to appear. I feel this is important as each participant prepares to create her mask. Often I ask them to see if She gives them a gift of some kind, and almost always something meaningful is presented.
Returning to the "above world", after our trance, Ilana told the group she had met a Goddess all in white. She called Her the "White Goddess". This Being emerged from the darkness to dance before her. Her dance, Ilana said, was like a figure 8, the "eternity symbol" - Her gestures consisted of gathering on one side, and giving forth on the other, a flowing movement of taking in and giving forth.
It happened that another of the women in the workshop was a professional dancer (a ballerina, actually!) who was retiring. She brought with her a dress from her performance years as a possible costume, and in the course of the workshop she gave Ilana this beautiful white dress - which was Ilana's size!
One of the two masks Ilana made was "scarred", to represent the suffering she had been going through in the course of her treatment for cancer. Yet it contained a bright red, and very open, heart. Above is the other mask she made for the White Goddess she encountered. A white mask with a basket on one side, and flowing forms with blooming flowers on the other. A mask for gathering, and for offering. And here is the poem she wrote - I feel privileged to share it.
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8/12/08 Postscript: I am sad to have to add that Ilana passed away 4 months after this workshop. But when I think of that, I think the Goddess who came to her, and the poem she wrote, were all about leading the Way.
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GATHER AND OFFER
Ilana Stein
Gather towards the West
Gather towards the North
Gather towards the South
Gather towards the East
Gather Above, gather below and gather the great Mystery
Gather what you’ve studied
Gather what you’ve learned
Gather how you’ve lived, and gather what you’ve earned.
Gather what you’ve loved and gather what you’ve lost.
Gather what you’ve soiled and gather what it’s cost
Gather what you’ve wasted and gather what you’ve saved
Gather what you’ve shopped for and gather what you’ve tasted
Gather who your friends are and gather how they’ve cared
Gather your relations and gather how you’ve fared
Then Gather birth and celebrate, gather death and cry
Gather hope, regret and longing and gather up the why
Gather up the waiting, gather struggles, gather challenges.
Gather all the goals you’ve met and gather up the bravery
Gather faceless fear and all the broken promises.
Gather yesterday today, and gather time tomorrow
Gather what you’ve ruined and gather when you’ve failed.
Gather up the personal and gather up the frail
Gather up the culture and gather up the myths
Gather all the songs you’ve sung, and all expressive art
Gather dances gather dreams and gather up your heart
Gather in the garden and gather at the beach.
Gather on the mountain and gather what’s in reach
Gather in the workplace, and gather on the roads
Gather in the home you’ve made and gather all you kin
Gather your impatience, your frustration and your greed.
Gather up the words you’ve said and gather what you need.
Gather up your journey and all the time you’ve spent
Gather up your courage and walk inside your tent.
Gather up your secrets and and gather up your wisdom
Gather what you’ve forgotten
Gather what you’ve meant.
Gather faith and Reverence
Gather truth and and gather lies,
Gather secrets great and small
Gather wisdom of the ages and wrap them in your shawl
Gather sickness, Gather health gather tenderness and rage
Gather all your stories and gather on the stage
Gather up your gatherings, and stir the basket’s bounty
Gather all remaining threads and search across the county
Look out among the human beings, look out among relations
Then offer up your gatherings to all nations and creations
Offer to your children and offer to your kin
Offer to the hungry, to the needy and the grim
Offer to the blessed and offer to the prim
Offer to the kings and queens the princess and princesses
Offer to the beggars, paupers, jesters and priestesses
Offer to the little birds the chipmunks and the deer
Offer to the badger, mole, the frogs, and yes the bear
Offer to the green spring shoots, the white and yellow crocus
Offer to the budding trees the bushes and the rushes
Offer to the sand and mud the concrete and the buildings
Offer to the cook and maid the seamstress and the butler
Offer to the farmers - offer to the farm
Offer to the doctors and offer for no harm
Offer to the visionaries offer to the artists
Offer to the frightened, offer to the scared
Offer to the endangered and to the unprepared
Offer to the hurting, offer to be healed,
Offer to your neighbor and offer to the field
Offer grace and offer peace offer possibility
Offer privilege trust and faith
Offer gratitude amazement wonderment and awe
Offer loving kindness, compassion, joy and love
Offer up your story, offer honor and integrity
Offer for community Offer your vulnerability
Offer what you’ve learned and offer what you have
offer what you know
Offer what you’ve shared
Offer both your ears, your shoulders and your tears
Offer all you’ve gathered, offer all your cares
You’ve gathered through the springtime,
the summer and the fall.
And you’ve offered season’s greetings without going to the mall.
Now rest and build your strength up. Cycle with the moon. Cycle through the mystery time. Close your eyes and sleep. Dream the dreams of where you’ve been.
Dream of where you’re going – dream the dream that dreamers dream.
Then gather.
I posted this in 2008.......I think it's well worth copying and sharing again, as it is so much with me today.
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| Hands of the Midwife (2005) |
2008:
I've been meaning to share this story from the MASKS OF THE GODDESS workshop I taught in April at the Kripalu Institute - while I always am moved and astounded by the work others do, I found this work especially moving. Ilana has graciously allowed me to share photos of the masks she made, and gave me permission to print the poem she wrote in the workshop.
Ilana is a well known Midwife and Birth Coach from New York City. She is a slight woman with intense eyes, and her hair was gone sparse because she's been undergoing chemotherapy, which she shared as we began our introductory Circle.
We begin our four day process with a "shamanic journey" to the Underworld, to encounter the Goddess, in whatever form She may care to appear. I feel this is important as each participant prepares to create her mask. Often I ask them to see if She gives them a gift of some kind, and almost always something meaningful is presented.
Returning to the "above world", after our trance, Ilana told the group she had met a Goddess all in white. She called Her the "White Goddess". This Being emerged from the darkness to dance before her. Her dance, Ilana said, was like a figure 8, the "eternity symbol" - Her gestures consisted of gathering on one side, and giving forth on the other, a flowing movement of taking in and giving forth.
It happened that another of the women in the workshop was a professional dancer (a ballerina, actually!) who was retiring. She brought with her a dress from her performance years as a possible costume, and in the course of the workshop she gave Ilana this beautiful white dress - which was Ilana's size!
One of the two masks Ilana made was "scarred", to represent the suffering she had been going through in the course of her treatment for cancer. Yet it contained a bright red, and very open, heart. Above is the other mask she made for the White Goddess she encountered. A white mask with a basket on one side, and flowing forms with blooming flowers on the other. A mask for gathering, and for offering. And here is the poem she wrote - I feel privileged to share it.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8/12/08 Postscript: I am sad to have to add that Ilana passed away 4 months after this workshop. But when I think of that, I think the Goddess who came to her, and the poem she wrote, were all about leading the Way.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GATHER AND OFFER
Ilana Stein
Gather towards the West
Gather towards the North
Gather towards the South
Gather towards the East
Gather Above, gather below and gather the great Mystery
Gather what you’ve studied
Gather what you’ve learned
Gather how you’ve lived, and gather what you’ve earned.
Gather what you’ve loved and gather what you’ve lost.
Gather what you’ve soiled and gather what it’s cost
Gather what you’ve wasted and gather what you’ve saved
Gather what you’ve shopped for and gather what you’ve tasted
Gather who your friends are and gather how they’ve cared
Gather your relations and gather how you’ve fared
Then Gather birth and celebrate, gather death and cry
Gather hope, regret and longing and gather up the why
Gather up the waiting, gather struggles, gather challenges.
Gather all the goals you’ve met and gather up the bravery
Gather faceless fear and all the broken promises.
Gather yesterday today, and gather time tomorrow
Gather what you’ve ruined and gather when you’ve failed.
Gather up the personal and gather up the frail
Gather up the culture and gather up the myths
Gather all the songs you’ve sung, and all expressive art
Gather dances gather dreams and gather up your heart
Gather in the garden and gather at the beach.
Gather on the mountain and gather what’s in reach
Gather in the workplace, and gather on the roads
Gather in the home you’ve made and gather all you kin
Gather your impatience, your frustration and your greed.
Gather up the words you’ve said and gather what you need.
Gather up your journey and all the time you’ve spent
Gather up your courage and walk inside your tent.
Gather up your secrets and and gather up your wisdom
Gather what you’ve forgotten
Gather what you’ve meant.
Gather faith and Reverence
Gather truth and and gather lies,
Gather secrets great and small
Gather wisdom of the ages and wrap them in your shawl
Gather sickness, Gather health gather tenderness and rage
Gather all your stories and gather on the stage
Gather up your gatherings, and stir the basket’s bounty
Gather all remaining threads and search across the county
Look out among the human beings, look out among relations
Then offer up your gatherings to all nations and creations
Offer to your children and offer to your kin
Offer to the hungry, to the needy and the grim
Offer to the blessed and offer to the prim
Offer to the kings and queens the princess and princesses
Offer to the beggars, paupers, jesters and priestesses
Offer to the little birds the chipmunks and the deer
Offer to the badger, mole, the frogs, and yes the bear
Offer to the green spring shoots, the white and yellow crocus
Offer to the budding trees the bushes and the rushes
Offer to the sand and mud the concrete and the buildings
Offer to the cook and maid the seamstress and the butler
Offer to the farmers - offer to the farm
Offer to the doctors and offer for no harm
Offer to the visionaries offer to the artists
Offer to the frightened, offer to the scared
Offer to the endangered and to the unprepared
Offer to the hurting, offer to be healed,
Offer to your neighbor and offer to the field
Offer grace and offer peace offer possibility
Offer privilege trust and faith
Offer gratitude amazement wonderment and awe
Offer loving kindness, compassion, joy and love
Offer up your story, offer honor and integrity
Offer for community Offer your vulnerability
Offer what you’ve learned and offer what you have
offer what you know
Offer what you’ve shared
Offer both your ears, your shoulders and your tears
Offer all you’ve gathered, offer all your cares
You’ve gathered through the springtime,
the summer and the fall.
And you’ve offered season’s greetings without going to the mall.
Now rest and build your strength up. Cycle with the moon. Cycle through the mystery time. Close your eyes and sleep. Dream the dreams of where you’ve been.
Dream of where you’re going – dream the dream that dreamers dream.
Then gather.
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