A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You

Of all the marriage ceremonies for which I have had the pleasure of officiating, the one wedding which has meant the most to me has been my dear friend and fellow clergy woman, Lady Sabrina Rhiannon's. She and her husband had decided they wished to have a legal Christian-Pagan Handfasting ceremony. In other words, an inter-faith wedding.

Lady Sabrina Rhiannon had performed the legal handfasting for my husband and I just a couple of years before and I was elated to have had the opportunity to return the favor - most especially because we had become such close friends. The wedding ceremony, written by Lady Sabrina Rhiannon herself, was a lovely union between  Paganism and Christianity.

To my delight, the wedding took place in the exact same Lutheran church I had grown up in. As it turned out, her husband had attended the same Sunday School there as I so many years ago. 

The ceremony had all the elements of a Pagan Handfasting such as the calling of the corners, invoking the Goddess and God and the joining of the couples' wrists to represent the "tying of the knot," together with the parts of a Christian wedding including the couples' vows and their exchange of rings. Add to all of this the love and support of your family and friends and you end up with a beautiful ceremony and a lifetime of memories you will never forget.

As with my own Handfasting ceremony, there were pamphlets handed out to all of the guests, explaining what they were about to witness. This is particularly helpful to the non-Pagan guests in attendance.

(This was the pamphlet which my husband & I gave out at our Handfasting)



Quite truthfully, when it comes down to it, we are all a part of the same "religious family", so to speak, and in the end it's all about the love.

Three generations of reiki - My Reiki Master Fran (Lady Sabrina Rhiannon), me and Fran's Reiki Master Vladimir Cucura, Jr., CRM

Change

As ironic as it may sound, if there is one thing I would definately love to change about myself, it is my reluctance to change. For as long as I can remember, I have always been afraid of any kind of change - major or otherwise and I have managed to continuously side-step it every possible chance I have gotten.


Most recently; however, I have found myself in yet another situation involving change. My employer has decided they need to utilize me in another department. This will be my fifth transition into a different job position in the six years I have been working for this particular company.


I started out as a Claim Support Specialist in the Auto Dept. and within a year I had been promoted to Claims Auto Dispatcher. About six months later, that position was centralized to Buffalo, N.Y. and I then ended up taking Clerical & Medical Specialist positions in the Workers' Compensation Dept., where I have been working for the past 4 1/2 years. Now I am about to embark on yet another Claim Support position - this time working under the company's Operations Manager.


In our Country's present state of economy, mind you, I have decided to think of this change as a positive opportunity. After all, the God and Goddess have always had a good reason for the many changes they have brought into my life. So, why should I look upon this particular experience any differently? As I've said before, I believe everything happens for a reason and I really do. So far, every single change in my life has led me to something I needed to learn or somewhere I needed to be. And so, I move forward in faith - waiting to see where life takes me next.

Astrology Poem - by Addison

I have loved astrology ever since my mother first introduced me to it as a teenager. I found the following poem in one of my many astrology books. I love it!

Who works from mourn to set of sun,

And never likes to be outdone?

Whose walk is almost like a run?

Who? Aries.

Who smiles through life - except when crossed?

Who knows, or thinks he knows the most?

Who loves good things - baked, boiled or roast?

Oh, Taurus.

Who's fond of life and jest and pleasure?

Who vacillates and changes ever?

Who loves attention without measure?

Why, Gemini.

Who changes like the changeful season?

Holds fast and lets go without reason?

Who is there can give adhesion -

To Cancer?

Soon as the evening shades prevail,

The Moon takes up the wondrous tale

And nightly to the listening Earth,

Proclaims the story of her birth

Who critizes all she sees?

Yes, even would analyze a sneeze

Who hugs and loves her own disease?

Humpf, Virgo.

Who praises all his kindred do?

Expects his friends to praise them, too -

And can not see their senseless view?

Ah, Leo.

Who puts you off with promise gay?

And keeps you waiting half the day?

Who compromises all the way?

Sweet Libra.

Who keeps an arrow in his bow?

And if you prod, he lets it go,

A fervent friend and subtle foe -

Scorpio.

Who loves the dim, religious light?

Who always keeps a star in sight?

An optimist both gay and bright -

Sagittarius.

Who climbs and schemes for wealth and place?

And mourns his brothers' fall from grace?

But takes what's due in any case -

Safe Capricorn.

Who gives to all a helping hand?

But bows his head to no command -

And higher laws doth understand

Aquarius.

Who prays and serves and prays some more?

And feeds the beggar at the door?

And weeps over love lost long before -

Poor Pisces.

Memories of Yule Past

One of the things I love most about our sabbat celebrations are the memories we create for ourselves when gathering together for ritual, food and fun! Needless to say, I have cherished each and every one of my many memories of friends and family throughout the years and this year was certainly no exception. The Goddess and God bring special people into our lives for a good reason and, in that respect, I have been truly blessed.

Rhiannon's new ritual robe

 

The Oak King & The Holly King dual

"The Gang"

Richie and mom Judy

Mike 'n' Naomi



   Just chillin'

Yule gifts!

Though now that Yule is over, we can happily look forward to Imbolg and the promise of spring. I must admit, next to Samhain and Beltane, Imbolg is perhaps my favorite of all the Wiccan holidays. I really love the way the light from our candle flames illuminate my home during ritual as we all stand inside the sacred circle - holding our single white candle in our hands in honor of the Goddess Brigit. It is truly a lovely sight to behold!

Cheers!

Well, it looks like the New Year will soon be upon us once again as we celebrate with family and friends. We stay up to watch the ball drop on Times Square, sing “Auld Lang Syne” and shout “Happy New Year!” My husband and I always like to watch “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve” while drinking Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante.

It’s been quite an interesting year for us. We were fortunate enough to be able to celebrate my mother and father-in-laws’ 50th Wedding Anniversary by taking a 6-day cruise to Bermuda and my husband and I also bought our first home this past year! This coming year, we are planning to take a trip to Canada with my in-laws and I am so excited! I have never been to Canada before, but my mother-in-law tells me the scenery is absolutely breath-taking!



 I have always wondered; however, where our New Year’s traditions came from and how this holiday was celebrated years ago? The celebration of the New Year is amongst the oldest of all the holidays which we, as Americans, observe. It was first celebrated in Ancient Babylon about 4,000 years ago. In the years around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible cresent) after the Vernal Equinox or first day of Spring which we,  as Wiccans, call Ostara.

The Babylonian New Year celebration lasted for eleven days. Each day had its’ own particular mode of celebration, but it is pretty safe to say that our modern New Year’s Eve festivities pale in comparison. The Romans observed the New Year in late March, but their calendar was continually changed by various emperors, causing the calendar to soon become out of synchronization with the Sun. In order to set the calendar right, in 153 BC, the Roman senate declared January 1^st to be the beginning of the New Year.

However we choose to celebrate the New Year, it will always be a time of rebirth, planting new crops, blossoming and a chance for us all to start anew!

From my family to yours, I wish each and everyone a safe and joyous New Year!

"Rhiannon" (Introduction to previous post, "The Silver Wheel")

"Once in a million years a lady like her rises!"
                                                                     - Stevie Nicks

The Silver Wheel

I have just finished reading a wonderful book called “The Silver Wheel” by Marguerite Elsbeth & Kenneth Johnson. This book explores the story of the Celtic Goddess Rhiannon, as written in “The Mabinogion." The authors attempt to relate her story to the trials and tribulations of women today. The following is a rather condensed version of Rhiannon’s amazing story.  

Rhiannon was the Celtic Goddess of song, white horses and death. Her name means, "Great Queen" and she is often depicted as a beautiful blonde-haired Goddess riding a swift, white horse. She is also considered a Triple Goddess – maiden, mother and crone. She was the wife of Pwyll, Prince of the Land of Dyved and the mother to their only son, Pryderi. She was wrongly accused of murdering her son and then later found innocent after he was returned to Dyved by his foster guardians. The child had actually been kidnapped by a man named Gwawl. Gwawl was the man whom Rhiannon’s father had promised her to before she had met Pwyll and a man whom she did not love. She and Pwyll had tricked Gwawl into releasing her from her fate of becoming his wife. Gwawl took his revenge by taking her child and framing her - making the kidnapping look like a murder.

After Pwyll had died years later, Rhiannon married Pryderi’s brother-in-law, Manawydan whom she was promised to by Pwyll upon his death. Together they ruled the Land of Dyved. Until one day, Rhiannon, her husband and Pryderi’s wife, Cigfa suddenly discovered that they were all alone in the land – everything else was gone! They roamed the land trying to find out what had happened. The next day, while hunting, Pryderi and Manawydan’s dogs chased a wild boar into a castle. When the dogs did not come back out, Pryderi went into the castle after them. When he did not come out, Rhiannon insisted upon going into the castle after him. As she entered the doorway, she found Pryderi’s hands frozen to a golden bowl which was attached to a fountain made of marble stone – his feet stuck to the slab of marble upon which he stood. Rhiannon then took hold of the bowl which enslaved him and she too became frozen to it. Neither one were able to speak. As night fell, the castle vanished!

 

Years after, while planting three seeds, Manawydan discovered that the first two seeds had been destroyed by a huge mouse. He decided to catch the mouse and place a noose around its neck to hang it. While attempting to hang the mouse, a Bishop approached him and began begging him not to kill it! Manawydan refused to let the mouse go until finally the Bishop explained to him that the mouse was actually his pregnant wife who had an enchantment placed upon her and that he was the one who cast the enchantment over Dyved to avenge his friend Gwawl, whom Rhiannon had dishonored so many years ago.

Manawydan insisted he would not let the creature go unless the Bishop freed his beloved wife Rhiannon and her son, Pryderi, and also promised to never harm him, his wife or her son ever again! The Bishop agreed and Rhiannon and her son were returned to Dyved where they finally lived happily ever after.

And oh yes, in case anyone was wondering, Stevie Nicks' beautiful song, "Rhiannon" was indeed written about this very inspirational Goddess!