Cleasing and Renewal - December to February

I always think of the December as a time to sit back and relax with family and friends. It's a time of giving and sharing and getting away from the every day. As the sun wanes to the shortest day (or longest night) of the year, I use that energy to cut ties, cleanse, and let go of those thing that need to be left behind. This past year the waning moon energy that occurred around the same time empowered all those efforts, as well as any cursing that needed to be done (to know the healing arts, one must also know how to curse). Cursing is, of course, a rare occurrence, but if oneself or one's family is threatened or harmed, then one is in her right to defend herself and her family. Of course, sometimes things just seem to work themselves out. It's nice when one has family Gods to petition (part of that whole rapport with Deity thing I teach my students), and the longest night is a good time for endings.

As the New Year rolls around, some energies begin to wind up, but others still seem to withdrawal. The ones that are winding up are the planning energies, the seeds that are born during this time of things to do, ideas to put into action for the coming year (like the garden!). Yet as we get nearer to February and/or the second lunar month of the year, there is almost a complusary desire to cleanse, similar to December's, but in a different way. February has always been a month of endings too, as it was once the last month in the Roman calendar. Note that the Zodiac also ends with Pisces around that same time. See my previous post on the Somber Events of February. The second lunar month of the year is a time to honor the deceased ancestors, the Manes. Last year I posted about the Parentalia, an ancient Roman observance we still honor today.

This past weekend I honored the Dark Moon, Scuro di Luna, with all the Clarian initiates. It was cold, and yet the message that came through was that the cold is like the darkness. It is a time for renewal, of getting rid of that which you no longer need so that you can come forth vibrant and renewed. I am prepared for the coming events of this somber lunar month and the further cleansing that must occur in February. We continue these ancient rites and traditions, as our ancestors before us. We honor our ancestors who give us strength in life.

Birth of My Godson

My Godson, Alexander, was born during the full moon in November. His mother, Candra, woke up early in the morning the day before, feeling the beginning surges that would bring him into the world. Candra and Aquilus spent that day together excited to meet their son. I anxiously awaited phone calls with updates on the status. And so it went, with Candra's earthy nature, things took a little while to really ramp up. I assumed as much and went to bed early, at 9pm. Around 2:30am I get a call from a very chipper Candra saying she and her entire family were heading to the hospital. From the sound of her voice and her reassurance not to rush, I decided to take my time. I arrived at the hospital around 3:30am. Candra was doing well, and the energies were beginning to swirl about her.

At 4am, she got decided to spend some time soaking in the hot tub. We spent two hours there chatting about politics and other mentally stimulating subjects. She only paused every couple of minutes or so during a contraction.

At 6am, she decided to walk around a bit, to get things moving. I offered my guided visualization/hypnosis skills, which she gladly accepted. With each contraction, I opened up the channel and guided the loving, supportive energy of Diana Claria through Candra. I compounded that with "opening" suggestions and visuals. Things progressed more quickly after that. I loved watching her "dance the baby out." She engaged in a subconscious practice of spiraling the hips, an ancient belly dance movement, which facilitates birthing. It was beautiful!

Around 8am Candra experienced what should have been a 20 minute transition, which included 2 cm of dilation and her water breaking, in about 2 minutes! It was intense. The energies swirling about her moved more rapidly, drawing even upon energies from the room. I had to keep myself consistently connected to the Two Suns (Above and Below) in order to maintain my own energy.

Soon she was pushing. Aquilus held one leg with each push, and a kind nurse the other. I stayed at her shoulder offering the power of my words, and loving energy from my hands, and an almost unconscious low moan to keep her own moans at a lower pitch (easier for pushing out babies that way, in lieu of a high pitched squeal, which prevents the energy from moving down and out the birth canal). The same had happened at my friends childbirth the previous month, and it ended up at both childbirths sounding almost like a very low chant.

At about five minutes before 9am, I told Candra's mother that the baby might be born at 9:23am. That's the time Sophia was born, only in the evening. She only laughed, because at the rate things had gone before, it didn't seem likely to her. Candra didn't even make it to 9:23am. She gave birth to Alexander at 9:15am, totally naturally, and he weighed a whopping 9lbs, 10.5oz! He was huge! She tore a bit, but was otherwise in the best of health, alert and aglow with her initiation into motherhood. I was elated to be at the birth of my godson, in the presence of those ancient spirits, the Matronae, and the Birthing Goddess, Diana Claria, at the liminal time of life itself. To be present at that magical moment when life enters into the light was absolutely amazing! Candra is an inspiration to all women who wish to experience natural child birth.

Six Random Things Meme

Inanna, Cosette, and Chell all tagged me for this meme. Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

1) I've been a vegetarian since I was 14. I was basically born a vegetarian, so it wasn't hard to "give up" meat. I never really cared for the stuff, and I feel it may be something I've carried with me from previous lives. I can't understand what it is like to crave a steak, as it's always been more of a punishment to me than a gift, when taken to steak dinners as a child. I have no explanation. It is what it is.

2) I love coffee. I love the taste, the smell, the look, the experience, everything about it. I even do decaf on occasion, and all is in moderation. For my 8 year anniversary this last September, my husband and I purchased a higher end coffee, espresso, capuccino maker from Capresso. It totally rocks!

3) I love animals. All of them. Even the stinky ones. I volunteer for them when I am able to, and I consider myself an advocate of animals. It sort of goes along with the whole oath to the Goddess Diana and all that, being that I am a priestess of Hers and all.

4) I'm an Arbonne consultant. You know, one of those folks to does home skin care presentations. Arbonne's skin care and health products totally rock! (Otherwise I wouldn't be a consultant for them). It's all 100% vegan and all natural, and after years of fruitlessly combing through natural food stores looking for quality vegan skin care, I was pretty pleased to discover Arbonne. Now I just have fun doing parties and playing with my toys. It's like Christmas at my house whenever a new shipment arrives. This is just another way I serve my Goddess, by using products that aren't cruel to Her beloved animals.

5) When I was 13 I was one of the 9 winners out of 90 submissions to the Philadelphia Young Playwrights Festival. It was a play about the creation of cats by Zeus to please a mortal woman he was wooing.

6) I used to play the upright bass in band, orchestra and ensemble in high school :-)


Okay. I tag these fun and informative folks: Lover of Strife, Goddess of Art, Livia Indica, Mystical Jett, Pietra, & Bri the Pie Guy.

Birth

One of the many projects that has consumed my time as of late is the expansion of my holistic health practice. I've branched out and taken on a partner in a new venture that falls into alignment with my spiritual values. While the overall purpose of this new venture is applying hypnosis and other holistic techniques to improve the quality of life, particularly of families, we've chosen to focus on the beginning of life. Candra, my partner, compliments my holistic background with her scientific training as a physical therapist. Her earthy, practical nature also compliments (and grounds) my geminid nature. Together we've developed a new birthing method that brings mind, body, and spirit into harmony and prepares women and their partners who want to experience natural childbirth.

So far I'm really impressed with the results of what we are doing. Our friends have gratefully been willing participants at this early juncture. Candra herself is in her ninth month of pregnancy, and will be the final test case. We will have had different levels of involvement in the various pregnancies. The last one was the most intense.

A friend of mine was very much interested in a natural childbirth experience after feeling she had been robbed of that experience the first time around by unnecessary interventions. She was open-minded and definitely goal-oriented toward having a better experience. Candra and I worked our magic (figuratively, but it was magical nonetheless) by presenting her with the knowledge that enabled her to tap into her own inner power, using the power of her mind and her spiritual connections, to allow her body to open to its natural rhythms.

We also assisted at her birth, which was a home birth. It was AMAZING! It was my first experience at a birth other than when I gave birth to Sophia. It was truly a magical experience. The energy that moves through a birthing woman is absolutely incredible. The miracle that takes place is a moving testament to the sublime. I used the power of words to bring the mind into harmony with the spirit body and emotional body. I used the power of touch to move energies and release tension.

I arrived at my birthing friend's house at 2:40am or so, only a few minutes after the midwife arrived, and she gave birth at 3:39am, completely naturally in the comfort of her own home. It was incredible. I could feel the power and presence of the three Goddesses and Diana Claria, who is always with me, but very much involved in the process, which is Her forte. I was a priestess in a way I have never been before. I want to bring this beautiful experience to other women. I had such a wonderful experience myself when I gave birth to my daughter. All women who so desire should have a magical initiation into motherhood as I did, as my friend did this second time around. It's time we reclaim this incredible process and revivify it with the magic that it truly is.

Candra will be giving birth in the next few weeks. I am so happy that I will be able to be there for her and Aquilus to assist in the beautiful birth of my godson. May Diana Claria share Her love and guidance with us.

501(c)3

After two years of intensive work, the Clarian Temple of the Religio Terranova is now a federal 501(c)3 non-profit organization! According to our bylaws, we are able to charter individual orders, such as the Order of the Evening Star, in any state. Our clergy are able to perform weddings in any state, and we can ordain clergy in any state. And, of course, all donations are 100% tax deductible!

Whew! My thanks (grazie!) to our high priest, Lord Ardeo Claria, and two of our fine intitiates, Candra and Aquilus, for all your hard work and perservance. We wouldn't be where we are today without you. Our prayers were answered, and now our service to the Gods can be done at a new level.

Beloved Gods of our ancestors, may Your priests and priestesses serve You well...

Better Days

October is nearing its end, and I feel as though I am finally managing my time better. This semester I definitely bit off more than I could chew as far as taking on extra work. Unfortunately, extra curricular things I enjoy, such as my blog, took a bit of a hiatus. Fortunately I'm back on track now and very much looking forward to mid-December.

In the interim some wonderful things have occurred, and I will post about them individually.

May you reconnect well to your ancestors at this time when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest.

Loss of Sister Strega and Elder

It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of a sister Strega and Elder over the Western Sea to the Blessed Isles. I am forever grateful to Lady Chiara, for providing me with the connection to a beautiful tradition and ancient family of Streghe. Her sacred power lives on and flows through me and the others in her line. May she be blessed with the sweet bliss of the Gods, guided by the light of her Lares.

From Lori Bruno:

In Honor and Memory of Chiara Di Luna (Robin Massaro)
Coven of Sacred Stone of Plantation/Sunrise, FL.

We are here for such a short time we come from many places our lives are marked by many trials and tribulations before we come into the Light. But there are those individuals which from those trials and tribulations carry a Light to inspire those who come to them, such was our departed Sister, Reverend, High Priestess Robin Massaro / Chiara Di Luna of the Coven of Sacred Stone of Plantation / Sunrise, FL..

She was born to this physical world on 5-May-1956 and on 6-Sept-2008 at 9:50 PM now walks with the Mighty Ones they welcome her, they Robe her with the mantel of Eternal Light, they have prepared for her the Feast of Feasts ~ She is Whole!

They sing the song of Rebirth and she will return in time to those whom she loves in a new life and may she remember ~ Viva Figlia Benedezino Sempre ~ You have come home to be reborn there is mourning there and joy, you are one with the Moon and the Sun.

Viva Bella Filgia Di Madre

Survived by Jade Morrisey [Daughter] and her husband Sean Morrisey and their daughter, her granddaughter Jayla-Lee Morrisey, her son Jeffery Massaro and his wife Sharmain and their son, her grandson Jevin Massaro, followed by her second daughter Jacquline Summers and her other son Jason Cook and his daughter, her granddaughter Justyce Cook.

Our Lord and Lady of the Trinacrian Rose Church
Temple of Diana
Sacred Circles’ Coven