Today I met a friend for lunch at the Farmer's Market. It was a beautiful, warm day; a blue and golden caboose on a train of gray and gloomy. cubsgirl68 and I walked about the stalls and despite my better judgment, I bought a liter of strawberries, though it is early in the season when they can be hard, pale and bland.

But how could I resist? It was a glorious day and I wanted that taste of the season. I needed a burst of something scarlet and sweet and though it is still spring here, these Michigan berries smelled like summer; like being 16 and driving a convertible to the beach to meet your first lover.

Luckily, I was not disappointed as they were quite good. Perhaps they were not as perfect as those upcoming rubies of late June but they hit the spot and choosing them was a wonderful symbol for my work in the world right now. It has been a long, hard year and though spring has come - things are by no means resolved or easy. "Complicated" has become a catch phrase for me but I've decided to take a risk. I've decided to chose hope and sweetness. I've remembered that I don't have to swallow the bitter medicines being pushed at me; I don't have to dwell in depression, anger and fear - I don't have to meet everyone's expectations of me - I don't have to be liked by people.

yezida often reminds us that we are in process and it's a good thing that she does because it's something my thick skull has a hard time absorbing. I still want to be perfect. I still want to be liked. I still mourn the things I have lost on (and because of) my journey - though I do not regret them or it. I know that this path may become more and more isolating. But even when it's hard, even when I'm so scared that I just want to curl into a ball and disappear, I still have choice - and I can still choose sweetness.

And I do. Today, I choose sweetness, hope, and love. Today, I choose that which is beautiful, warm, ripe and delicious. With a shrug that eloquently proclaims "fuck it!" I move; I push against the grain. I stand out in the crowd and even alone, my berry-stained lips smile in triumph. I clutch this daring choice to me...I do not want to lose it in the chaos nor forget the tang of joy on my tongue.

I've had the fortune of doing dream work with Anne Hill in a few small groups and she's an incredibly talented person. If you're interested in dreams, dream interpretation and how you can work with your dreams for growth and healing, then you might want to check this one out. Anne has uncanny insights and it will be a fun day as well as a fascinating peak into the mysteries of our lovely brains!

*********************************************

8th House Productions presents...



Working With Dreams to Strengthen the Soul
with Anne Hill

We all have questions we want answered, and fears we need to resolve. The great wisdom expressed every night through our dreams is our best guidance for all these concerns. Bizarre and troubling dreams especially bring healing energy for us, if we know how to access it. Understanding our dreams puts our worries to rest, builds wisdom, and helps strengthen our souls.

Dreams also open windows into the future, and help us see things from startling new perspectives. In this workshop we will use group dreamwork and shamanic dream techniques to dive into the world of dreams, find the treasure waiting there for us, and emerge stronger and more confident. We will create dream allies out of disturbing images, and learn how to be bold dreamers. All levels of dreamwork experience are welcome. Please come with an old or new dream to share, a journal, and a small object that evokes your dreams.

********

Anne Hill, D.Min., is the author of What To Do When Dreams Go Bad: A Practical Guide to Nightmares. She teaches and speaks internationally, has a private dream practice, and hosts a weekly radio show on dreams. Anne writes about dreams and culture for the Huffington Post, and also writes the award-winning Blog o' Gnosis, http://gnosiscafe.com/gcblog She co-authored Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions, is a Reclaiming and Feri priestess, and a faculty member of Cherry Hill Seminary. Anne’s website is http://annehill.org.

********

When: Sunday, June 28, 2009, 10am–4pm
Where: Lifeforce Arts Center, 3148 N Lincoln Ave., Chicago IL 60657, www.lifeforcearts.org
Cost: $50 - $75 sliding scale, a $25 deposit is required to hold your space by Wed. 6/24.

To register or for questions, contact River Roberts at 773.506.1099 or river.roberts@gmail.com.

Last weekend I made my first visit to Madison, WI. It was no less quaint, liberal or filled with magical people than I had been promised and I developed a little bit of a crush on the place. It was wonderful to see old friends (who spoiled me), to make new ones and to wallow in spring...

The trip started with a quick, 3-hr Megabus ride which was made quicker by juicy conversation. From there, we were picked up by E who drove us to her home and invited us to walk in a nearby park on Lake Mendota. It was a stunning day and marked my very first walk of the season sans coat. The liberation was exhilarating, I tell you.

Later we were joined by D for more lake-side walks (this time meeting Lake Monona) as bluebells, hyacinth and daffodils popped out here and there to flirt with us. We stopped for some tasty Thai food which we shared al fresco (a particular love of mine) back at E's. Though it got a bit chilly towards the end, we sat out for hours as the birds sang the sun down and heralded an impressive spread of stars (more impressive than in light-polluted Chicago anyway). Coffee, orange liquor, blankets and lap dogs kept us warm as we shared thoughts on spirituality, art, green living and various stuff that made us giggle. It was a bliss.

Saturday and Sunday I got to share Feri work and community, including a impactful tool about self-acceptance and body image created by feri_hearted. It's funny how life works given that an interaction from my birthday week has had me struggling with those issues more strongly than is usual...it's nice when things come just at the right moment.

Other highlights of the weekend included soaking in Sheela-na-gig (M's hot tub) under the stars, a few stops at the lovely coffee shop Mother Fools (where they serve organic, fair trade coffee that is quite delicious), eating pizza with beets on it (YAY beets!) and laughing/dancing/singing with beloved friends.

Speaking of dancing, on Sunday I was blown away by Madtown Ecstatic Dance and I have to say, if you live in or near Madison, I cannot recommend this enough. The group meets in a yoga studio that is open, bright and sunny. They stretch, share a personal intention for the dance and then proceed to get down for an hour. The music was AMAZING and I lost myself to the joy of it. It was fun to note that I have much more energy and strength than in the past (due to non-smoking and the gym); sweat soaked and grinning, I felt younger than I have in years. My worries fell away for a while and I carried that bit of ecstasy with me throughout the day...even now the thought of it makes me smile.

Much thanks to the lovely folks in Madison who hosted and cared for me...you Mad beings are quite exceptional.

T. Thorn Coyle ~ Sex, Will and Magic: Opening to Life Power

A 2-day intensive March 7 & 8, 2009

Do you yearn to feel life force flowing through you?

Magic is the marriage of breath, will and desire. If our lives lack full access to any of these, our magic will not thrive. In this experiential workshop we will learn ways to tap the energy of life and sex, using this to strengthen our will and fuel our work.

Energy techniques, meditation and chanting will help us access life power, opening our lives to heightened awareness, energetic sensitivity, and a strong, magical will. Strength, love, and beauty will surely follow.
This workshop is open to anyone, no previous experience required. If you would like to bring more magic into your life, if you would like to open up the channels to your creativity, if you would like to access the life force that each of us has within us, please join us for this intensive.

Location
Life Force Arts Center
3148 N Lincoln Av.
Chicago IL 60657
773-327-7224
www.lifeforcearts.org

Dates and Times:
Saturday, March 7, 10am-9pm
Sunday, March 8, 10am-3pm
Admission: $125
Please also bring a bag lunch or an item for potluck.
Other things to bring: journals, simple art supplies, divination tool (cards or runes), a cup, and a pendulum.

T. Thorn Coyle

T. Thorn Coyle is a Magic Worker, Mystic, and Pagan. An internationally respected teacher and author, her work focuses on the alchemy that occurs when we open ourselves fully to our humanity in our quest for Divine knowledge. In combining art and science, magic and mystery, body and soul, practice and ecstasy, she has created a unique body of work that has touched the lives of many seekers, artists, activists, parents and other change-makers.

A student of the Craft for more than 25 years, she is an initiate of the Feri Tradition (her religious home), Reclaiming, and the Mevlevi Order of America. Thorn combines her esoteric studies, work with her Gods and Guides, and years of practice, to form a teaching that honors the fertile dark and the limitless light. Citing her primary influences as G. I. Gurdjieff and Victor and Cora Anderson, she continues her spiritual studies in many traditions.
Through individual spiritual direction, weekend workshops, tele-classes, and group study as well as her webblog and podcasts, Thorn provides insights on the multi-facets of our lives, from spiritual practice, mystic revelation, and personal awareness to politics, religious observance, and celebration. Musician, dancer, activist, poet, and author of Evolutionary Witchcraft, she makes her home near the San Francisco Bay.

www.thorncoyle.com

For more information or to register, please contact Jennifer at greenjenbyers@gmail.com

Many of you have likely seen this, but just in case you missed it and are in the area, I am posting it here. Thank you gayshaman for putting this together!

Sadly, I will be in rehearsal, but if for some reason I am let out early I'd only be a block and half away. I am hoping to catch those of you that make it.

Love and pie ~ J

Cora Memorial International Feri Pie Day: Pie in the Chi



You are all invited to an open Feri gathering to get together, to eat pie in honor of Cora, and talk about things Feri or whatever happens to come up. Students and initiates are all welcome.


Where? At Mankind Project in Chicago, 1900 W. Fulton St, Chicago IL


When? On Saturday, September 20, 2008 from 12:30pm until 2:30pm.


What an odd time, why is that? The Brotherhood of the Phoenix has graciously allowed us to use their space for a couple hours before their open Mabon ritual, which that tradition calls, "Ecstasis." All Feri guests are welcome to attend their ritual following the gathering. http://temple.brotherhoodofthephoenix.org/chicago/events


What to bring? A pie and "green dishes." As a service to the Earth, I propose that we all bring our own reusable dishes and flatware. There are facilities to wash our dishes afterward.


If you have any questions or if you know that you are coming and would like to help me coordinate this event, please let me know.

I am home from Feri camp - and what a wonderful weekend/year it was. Despite much sleep deprivation and a fairly harsh knee injury (which I totally earned by walking in the woods without wearing my boots) I am well and inspired to move forward in my work. I met many new and wonderful people and reconnected with several dear ones. I am feeling very blessed; tired and knee-sore...but overflowing with gratitude.

Though I continue to have many unanswered questions, I do feel even more strongly that Feri "fits" for me. It is part of who I am and am becoming and I plan to continue to expand my practice. I am looking forward to discovering how this blooms and changes now that my training with yezida is wrapping up, and am more and more curious about living and breathing into work that is based in sustainability, that also uses Feri tools.

So a new door opens...and I step, open-hearted, forging in beauty my empyreal path.

I'm off to the wilds of New Hampshire...see ya on the flip side!

This past Saturday I had a date with Tari, which was one of the most enjoyable days I have spent in some time. I awoke to steadily falling snow, and several inches of accumulation - so I bundled up, wrestled the big boots and headed out to the train. Tari met me there and we stopped for some coffee and breakfast in Lincoln Square. From there we commuted over to Pilsen, where the National Museum of Mexican Art is located.

We went to catch the Dia de los Muertos exhibit before it closed for the year, and as always - it was a visual, emotional and energetic adventure. The offrendas were diverse; they were joyous and sad...and of course there were lots of fantastic Catrinas (which, for some reason, I adore).

From there we viewed the permanent collection, which actually included the most impactful piece of our visit. It was a mural named "Ancient Memories" by Mario Castillo. I will paste in an image of the mural here, but I cannot do this work justice. You cannot tell that there are layers upon layers of translucent images here - many of which are connected by power points (like the hearts or eyes)of creatures and beings which make up this shared history. Throughout the painting are ribbons of light or life force, connecting everything and over it all - glossy skulls, invisible save only in the right flash of light, dance at the completion of life's cycle.



My favorite part of the mural was an image of a "Universal Mother" whose lovely, violet-diaphanous form held within it myriad spiral galaxies, stars, planets and mysteries. I wish I could find a clear image of her to share here, but this is what you get...



On an interesting note, this artist works in semen acrylics so that a part of him is always within each work he creates. Certainly this piece is charged...you can feel it. I was almost knocked back a step when I turned to take this in for the first time. If you're doing Feri work, I recommend this mural especially...if it is not a paean to the fabric of love herself, then I don't know what is.

If you live in Chicago or are visiting and are able, I highly recommend stopping by to take this in. The museum is always free and is within easy walking distance of the Pink Line.

After a great day of art, Tari and I chose to walk over a mile in the snow. It was too beautiful out there not to indulge, and I had fun acting like a six year old, catching snowflakes on my tongue and lashes while piping out Vince Guaraldi holiday carols at the top of my lungs. Tari didn't even pretend not to know me...can you believe it?

Once fully frozen and a bit foot-sore, we headed over to our favorite vegetarian watering hole, The Chicago Diner. Sadly the food and the service were VERY lacking (excepting the Miso-based french onion soup) and Tari and I decided that we need to try out some other veggie restaurants in town. There are quite a few interesting prospects...I'll let you know if we find any treasures.