Last weekend, my friend Kate and I held our first women’s circle, coming together and holding a space for a ritual. It’s something we have both done informally in groups we have been involved in over the years, but last year I really began to feel I wanted to be more intentional around this.
For quite a while now I have been feeling a need for feminine connection - to other women and the divine feminine. I believe that it is this energy that will be required to heal the earth and all those who inhabit her.
This is where I want to focus my energy.
We celebrated Beltane* - and somehow manifested a couple of dry hours on what had been a very wet day - as we welcomed the transition of Spring to Summer (in the hope that we will actually see the sun soon).
* The Celtic wheel is an ancient calendar guided by the transition of the sun throughout the seasons.The year is divided into a wheel of eight festivals
Beltane is one of the four fire festivals, marking the beginning of summer.
Sitting in a beautiful garden by the river with the birds singing their hearts out made connecting to the land, and each other, especially easy. Sharing our thoughts around the fire, as women will have throughout time, connected us to all those Goddesses who have gone before, as well as the Goddess in each of us.
Transitioning is a constant, life is always flowing (whether we resist it or not) and making time to consciously move through the seasons and changes feels really important.
Witnessing the shedding of the things which no longer serve us, we were supported by the earth and each other. Remembering that this is reciprocal gives me faith. The earth does need protection, but she is strong too and supports us unconditionally. It is too easy to lose faith, be distracted and feel overwhelmed.
Sometimes we need to pause and just get closer to the ground. We need to tune in to nature, allow ourselves to be held and then listen to what is really being asked of us. Perhaps just more simplicity? Some action? It will be different for each of us and there will be cycle.
I feel myself in yet another cycle of life - transitioning once more - I used to be a fighter, a protester, demonstrator, saboteur. I do hope I’ll always be a disruptor - though now I’d prefer to be shining a light that others may choose to be inspired by.
I know I can’t change the world, only myself.
I can only influence it by being that which I want to see more of and by stepping up when asked by others for support.
I know now, that this enables me to retain precious energy and where once I would be depleted and exhausted, feeling anxiety and overwhelm, I am able to not only function but thrive and celebrate - and we never know where our influence is seen or felt, or how it may be embodied.
So I am looking forward to this time of physical and spiritual renewal, the birthing of some ideas and hopefully some much longed for sunshine.
The Summer Day
Mary Oliver -
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean--the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down
--who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention,
how to fall down into the grass,
how to kneel in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed,
how to stroll through the fields
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?