Just a Quick Note

It’s been a while since I have posted anything on the blog. Life has just been very busy as of late.

This is really just a quick note to let as many people know as soon as possible some things that are going on. Normally I would do individual phone calls, however, I am having problems just getting my jaw open wide enough to drink and eat. Talking for any length of time is just out of the question right now, it only puts more strain on already stressed out muscles.

I am scheduled for surgery on Monday morning. Everything should progress normally, but the surgery is going to be a little more complex than normal. One of my wisdom teeth has abscessed. The antibiotic I was prescribed was not strong enough to fight the infection and so it spread, rapidly. If the tetanus in my jaw subsides for the surgery, this should all go smoothly. If not, this could drag on for a while.

I will let everyone know if anything changes.

Danielle

You're invited to Imbolc!

You're invited to Imbolc! Notice that we have had to reschedule from our original time and date. Daniella, Jon, and Steph now work this Saturday, and are unavailable on Sunday morning... Ah well... :)

Anyway, here's the link. :)

Enjoy!

With love and blessings,
BrightWater (Jen Harlan)
jen.c.harlan@gmail.com
hillcountrygrove@gmail.com

The Wild Hunt: Goddess Religion and Misandry?

This is a note from The Wild Hunt.  What do y'all think?

 Enjoy!

With love and blessings,
BrightWater (Jen Harlan)
jen.c.harlan@gmail.com
hillcountrygrove@gmail.com

And another test...

La la la la la...

Get Your Pickle On

We are having a pickling day, making jams, jellies, and pickles over at Steph and Joe's house.  The link is up above, and the invitation is below.  :)  For more details, check with Steph!

With love and blessings,
BrightWater (Jen Harlan)
jen.c.harlan@gmail.com
hillcountrygrove@gmail.com

Gluhwein Recipe

This is the recipe for Gluhwein, we used at Yule. :)

1/2 c. water
1/2 lb. sugar
2 whole cloves
1 inch stick cinnamon
Lemon peel
Orange peel
1 bottle red wine

 Enjoy!

With love and blessings,
BrightWater (Jen Harlan)
jen.c.harlan@gmail.com
hillcountrygrove@gmail.com

Silent Night, Holy Night

Silent Night, Holy Night

 Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 7:40am

This poem was provided to us by @Charles Edmonson, who found it on http://www.blackheartferi.com/madpoetics

 

Silent Night, Holy Night was read aloud as part of this year's Yule Ritual. Enjoy! If you were unable to make it to this ritual, but plan on coming to Imbolc, please meditate on this poem and think of what you are calling into being at Yule this year. Make that thing a part of you for the next 6 weeks. At Imbolc, we will write down what you have created and send it into the cosmos. What you created will then return to you at Ostara.

If you have any questions, please contact BrightWater (512.989.0539 or 512.567.1465).

With love and blessings,
BrightWater (Jen Harlan)
jen.c.harlan@gmail.com
hillcountrygrove@gmail.com

Silent, Holy Night.

From the Depths of Darkness come Wisdom, Power, Surrender
From the Depths of Her Womb come Innocence, Power, Will

Ssssshhhhh. Be still

And hear Her calling in the silence
The birth cries ring through the longest hours
Across the generations of Time
The wide starlit expanse of heaven
The density of earth

Ssshhhhh. Hold on.

The womb/world/skies contract
Rippling
Rigid
Unbearable

Ssshhhhh. Breathe. Open.

And puuuuuuuuuuusssssssshhhhhh hhh

Through
Into the arms of Darkness.
Slippery, innocent, blinded by our own light.
We are Her hand-maidens
And Birth Givers ourselves.
We mid-wife the coming of the Light Bearer.
And we too, are Bearers of Light.
The Darkness of Night
Endings into Beginnings
The brightness of Noon
Silence and Song
Laughter into tears
Lover and Beloved
Mother and Child.

Ssssssshhhhhhhh.

Sleep.
In heavenly
Peace.

Rise up

And greet the Newborn Dawn
Light
Lugh
Lu
Luscious

Sila.

Circle stuff and such...

So, I get asked this question a lot, "what should I bring to the meeting/Sabbat/Esbat/group function?" I should have thought to make this post sooner, the answer seems simple to me and that is an assumption on my part. I've been involved in group work for nine years and getting close to ten, so this is old hat in some ways for me, in others not so much.

1. These are items that will never go bad and we will always need these things for every ritual at the Covenstead, period.
a. Toilet paper
b. Paper towels
c. Garbage bags
d. Hand Soap
e. Dish Soap

2. Food items that don't go bad quickly:
a. Chocolate - It is always appropriate to bring chocolate anytime, no questions will be asked (unless of course you don't bring any)
b. Chips - corn, potato, rice, whatever
c. Other non-perishable food items
We are creative people and can do much with just about anything you can pull out of a pantry, and will at Imbolg, details to follow later.

3. Drinks
a. Diet Coke - This also is also always appropriate to bring (massive quantities will always be greatly appreciated and keep your HPS and Center from going insane!)
b. Other types of sodas
c. Beer
d. Juice drinks


If you find yourself at the store before a ritual and just can't think of something that sounds good, pick an item or two off the list and bring them.

Also, I understand budgetary constraints, believe me I do. So, as a good friend and teacher once said to me "if all you can bring is an apple and some saltines, bring them, chances are they will be exactly what someone is craving." It's not about how much of what you bring, the goal really is for everyone to practice generosity. We share what we have and all are enriched.

I'm looking forward to another Yule and another year, hope to see y'all there!

Blessed Be,

Danielle

Yule Vigil and Ritual

Mothers' Night