NEW YEAR - 2008 - YEAR OF EARTH RAT -
The Chinese New Year came on Feb 8th, with the New Moon.
The rat is the animal that always flees the ship before it sinks. So this should give us pause to think about where our lives are going, our personal safety and that of our communities.
The earth is our larger community and so I am writing now about our Sacred Earth, sharing some of my feelings, views, commitments, suggestions as well as some interesting scientific facts which have surfaced just recently.
Certainly our daily lives often seem more and more perilous and stressful by the day. Whether we are simply pushed by the vicissitudes of life, like the Fool of the Tarot, who wanders on the edge of the precipice, the small dog nipping at his heels, or whether time/space have really being rachet-ed up (sorry I made up that word), this is really how it feels. Oftentimes we feel quite as if we are hurtling forward with less and less control over the circumstances in our lives.
OK, the economic situation is part of it. The wars and calamities that are raging across our globe certainly influence our mode of thinking. The US is in the midst of electoral campaigns. And yet, we also feel that something greater is happening, something we feel but cannot put our finger on exactly and certainly do not feel able to influence ourselves.
I decided this year NOT to write yearly predictions - they might be too vast and too gloomy.
On the other hand there is a huge amount of work to be done, for individuals who care about themselves, their communities and the well-being of our planet as a whole.
Most of us can do very simple things, many of which cost nothing. I am making a partial list below:
1) Get a length of chicken wire (or a garbage pail with pre-drilled holes if you can afford it) and set up a compost pile for all your biodegradable trash
2) Get a chimenea (one of those Mexican clay outdoor chimneys) and burn your paper trash (NO plastics) leaves, sticks etc.. instead of filling more plastic trash bags.
3) Pier I is selling for less than $2, very handy large canvas bags for your grocery shopping. Shun plastic bags. Carry 2, 3 or even 4 or 5 canvas bags and bag your groceries in them. Once you try it, you'll love it. They do not tear like plastic bags, you can put more in each one and they tend to not spill over all over you car either. Other canvas bags are available - and check garage sales too!
PLASTICS do not degrade, they just break down into smaller and smaller pieces but the polymer does not degrade. So this is way more important than it may seem at first.
4) Go through your house and see how many items are made of plastic. You'll be appalled! Try and replace as many as you can with more natural stuff. Ok, you can't do it all at once but each time you need to replace and item, shun plastic and artificial stuff, try a more natural item. Choose wood - bamboo - cloth instead of plastic.
5) Support free democratic societies by buying products made there and boycott products from undemocratic states or countries with poor human rights record.
6) This includes Boycotting All Products From China until Tibet is liberated and until China stops supporting Sudan in its genocide of the people of Darfur. Believe me, it's very hard to not buy anything from China. The laptop I'm working on right now came via Shangai. I know it - can't do a thing about it. But if we try, every little item does count.
7) Write and campaign against the Olympics to be held in China. Public pressure has already convinced Steven Spielberg to withdraw his artistic direction for the opening celebration. Good, we can watch his movies again.
8) Go through your house and replace these light bulbs! Again you don't have to do it at once but when an old bulb burns out, put in one of the new spiral ones.
9) Do not support Big Oil - instead buy from your local refineries. This is a lot easier to do than it seems and you'll save money as well. Plus you will not be supporting unpalatable policies that are only geared to profit and greed.
10) Eat healthy and simply , whenever buy organic or locally grown products. If you do not live in the city, try growing a few things or plant fruit trees etc..
11) Wear natural fibers - cotton, silk, wool. Rayon is not so bad as it is derived from wood, which is a renewable resource. Shun all synthetics in your apparel and your furnishings.
12) Do not abuse your body, which is the temple for your soul, through drinking of alcoholic beverages, smoking or drugs. Shun artificial medicines, instead consult a master herbalist, or a naturopath. When your body is clean of artificial foods and chemicals, it will naturally tell you what it needs, you will be hungry for certain things and if unwell you may have certain cravings which will naturally direct you towards what you need to get better. There are excellent herbal teas, tinctures and homeopathic remedies available today which allow your body to recover naturally while strengthening your immune system so you do not fall sick over and over again.
13) Plant a tree. Think if everyone planted just ONE TREE! Nurture it and look after it. It will give you shade, pride, joy - and maybe even flowers or fruits. So far I have planted a good dozen trees not counting the palms! Refrain from cutting existing trees. Trees have a soul and have a vital part in the greater scheme of things. There is an excellent little book called Hinduism and Ecology which speaks clearly of the historical and natural value of trees.
14) Adopt a pet - again, think if every single person adopted a pet - how wonderful THAT would be. You don't have to have a dog if you are too busy to take care of it. A cat can manage much better on its own, or even a rabbit, a bird, a snake, a turtle.. Do not buy expensive animals from pet shops which only encourages irresponsible breeders, but visit your local shelters until you find the right pet for yourself. Look at websites for adoptable pets.
Rev. Kenneth says that complete devotion to one's pets leads to enlightment.
Our sister temple cares for 3 dogs and 3 birds.
My own Madre de Agua Spiritual Temple now cares for 2 goats, 2 dogs (both rescued), and 2 snakes, plus some fish in the pond..
15) Feed the birds daily - this is a task but if you can be consistent you will be rewarded with nearby nests and lovely birds to watch. Feed the squirrels (they deserve our love too) and let the critters come. It is also nice to plant flowering shrubs for butterflies, hummingbird, and bees.
LIFE DESIGNS - FENG SHUI - REIKI , AT NOVC.
It is my privilege to often describe my work by saying : Voodoo helps heal the individual, the community and the world.
This means that as the individual heals oneself, he or she is better able to make a positive and healing influence upon the community and many such communities is what our world is. So do not discount your small efforts. But as everything changes constantly, we should not expect our efforts to stop suddenly and to rest with yesterday's tasks. To heal oneself is to become more attuned to oneself and our individual relationship with our environment, our planet and our universe. The Spirits inhabit our universe as well. As we center ourselves, we are closer to the world of Spirit.
My healing work and self-healing began with more traditional Native American Medicine - the Earth as the foundation. Blessed by the Great Spirit. Over the years I have added many experiences and teachings from various traditions. So on the foundation have been built many edifices. But they are not disparate or discordant.
At this time, this 2008 year, which a year of great change and great risks, it is more important than ever to strengthen our foundation and pace our journey in a steady and sure way. We need a strong center, clear vision, an encompassing agenda of life and wellness. Only through this steps we can hope the weather the next four years and beyond.
When we are centered and whole and quiet within, we are quite cognizant of our intuition, the voice of the Ancestors and the Spirits. And thus we are guided to the place of light.
So for this year of 2008 I have chosen to offer a new page - new services which however are not new as I have been practicing and honing them to perfection for many many years.
But it is time for me to put those resources out into the planetary community for the benefit of all.
• Through Feng Shui readings, we can help delineate areas of weakness and areas of strength so you can build a more stable and secure foundation.
• A thorough house or office cleansing is often a very beneficial step to change a negative course into one of success and abundance.
• Energies can be reinforced and balanced with the judicial use and placement of certain gemstones or the wearing of gemstone jewelry.
• The judicial use of herbal baths prepared in conjunction with the moon cycles can help the individual with a lift for new projects, or solidify areas that are already well underway.
• Look to the near future for Medicine Bundles and Medicine Woman readings which will encompass your animal, vegetal and mineral totems.
THE COUNTDOWN TO 2012 / MORE ON THE MAYAN PROPHECIES
With talks all over the news about the US possibility of firing a missile to take out a spy satellite that is now on the verge of re-entering the atmosphere and crashing to Earth, it is most natural for many of us to look upward and wonder what else could just happen to be on a collision course with our Blue Planet.
Well, there just happens to be an asteroid named 99942 Apophis and which was just discovered in 2006 by astronomers. It was also discovered that this asteroid has a faint chance of striking Earth in 2029. Then this was changed to telling us that it may pass very near our planet, but without striking it. Yet we were told, don't discount it entirely because as it passes us by, it may be pulled into a a gravitational "hole," and then it will shift its orbit and strike Earth in 2036.
But then it was revealed that it will come very near our Earth, in 2012-2013. Hmmm.. Just in time to tie in nicely with the Maya Prophecies (see below).
NASA is considering firing a missile towards the asteroid to plant a beacon onto it at the most appropriate time. Right! When in doubt - shoot - that's the motto these days.
MORE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE MAYAN PROPHECIES,
You will also be interested in the following:
A recent article in ViewZone revealed a very interesting and recent discovery of astronomers and scientists: whereas we have always believed and certainly been taught that our Solar System is part and parcel of the great Milky Way, it seems that in fact this is all wrong. Our Solar System in fact belongs to Sagittarius Dwarf galaxy!
This conclusion was reached through a major project at the U. of Massachusetts, during which scientists deliberately mapped out the sky with infrared light. The mapping project showed that the Milky Way is in fact devouring OUR galaxy !(the Sagittarius Dwarf - no I am not making this up).
The study has been published in the Astrophysical Journal, showing the entire map of the Sagittarius galaxy which is ten thousand times smaller than the Milky Way. The study shows how the smaller galaxy is being torn and stretched into the larger Milky Way.
This phenomena, now exposed also answers the age-old question of why the Milky Way has always appeared to astronomers as being on an angle, a fact I can attest to from watching the beautiful Milky Way from the somewhere far out in the Atlantic and it did seem rather to be standing sideways. Our vision is simply not equipped to see the interaction of the two galaxies but the new mapping has allowed scientists to view clearly Sagittarius in its entirety. It then became readily apparent that stars and clusters of stars have already been swallowed up by the Milky Way from their original parent galaxy, and our solar system is already within but can be traced back to its original parent Sagittarius parent.
What is even more interesting - particularly in view of the Maya prophecies - is that Sagittarius is now at a critical moment when it is hardly able to sustain itself because of the enormous gravitational pulls which it is being subjected to. We are watching the death of a galaxy as it is being absorbed into a much bigger one. This gobbling up of galaxies certainly has happened countless times in the history of the universe, however what is important to us is that now our Solar System is due to pass through the debris of Sagittarius. Let's make it clear: we are part of the Sagittarius dwarf , but being "eaten" by the Milky Way, we are now in a position where debris from Sagittarius is raining on us.
There are still a lot of calculations and observations to make, particularly concerning the Milky Way and the distribution of its dark matter. Also more research is needed to understand and calculate how this affects our sun - its burning hotter and the increase in temperature in the other planets of our solar system , which cannot be accounted by global warming from human and industrial causes.
Even more interesting is the following quote from scientists:
" This grand turning is possibly the root cause for the discontinuation of the Mayan calendar (the most accurate on the planet) because the 'read-point' of the Pleiades star cluster, which many believe the calendar was based upon, can no longer be a constant as we begin to steer away from the earlier predictable movements."
Many other changes have been noticed throughout our solar system, which are now believed to be caused by this new understanding of our true position in Sagittarius Dwarf within the Milky Way, such as a proliferation of dark spots on Pluto, magnetic polar shifts on Uranus and Neptune, increased force of the magnetic field on Jupiter, surprising and unexpected data coming back from Mars, and many many more.
Again the scientists warn:
"In our movement through space, our Earth has now fully begun to respond to the more powerful galactic energies and electro-gravitational bias of the massive Milky Way. We have reached the higher energy equatorial disc region of the massive spiral arm. We have now been "adopted" by a new system, a stronger and more powerful system, and we can expect changes on almost every level of energy. Whatever these changes are, they are all part of the natural birth, death, rebirth and transformation of the cosmos".
For interested readers, I will be glad to forward the entire article I drew this information from and which also contains additional links.
There is also more about the Maya Prophecies below on this same page - please scroll down.
SO IN THIS YEAR 2008 - YEAR OF THE EARTH RAT, IT IS TIME TO CENTER OURSELVES AND PREPARE AND HAVE CLEAR VISION AS WELL AS TO LOVE OUR PLANET AND OUR WORLD.
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DAILY PRAYER
SAMSARA AND NIRVANA
APPEAR DREAM-LIKE
BUT DO NOT COVER THE FACE
OF PURE MIND
MIND IS / DEVOID OF MIND
PURE MIND IS CLEAR LIGHT
PURE MIND IS EMPTINESS OF SKY
THERE ARE NOT PAST AND FUTURE LIVES
THE TRIPLE WORLD FLOWS IN EACH MOMENT
REALIZE THIS
AND EMPTY THE DEPTH OF SAMSARA
OM GATE GATE PARAGATE PARASOM GATE BODHI SVAHA
A VISIT FROM H.H, THE XIV DALAI LAMA
This month of october I was fortunate to be able to travel to Bloomington IN to receive several days of teaching from H.H the XIV Dalai Lama. What a blessed person he is. He is so enlivened and enlivening, often making jokes but always sweet ones and often at his own expense. Very humble he is, which makes him all the more endearing to us. He insists that he does not believe in the term Holy and that there are no differences between him and ourselves. But his accomplishments, travels, and spiritual knowledge and expertise put him far above our puny heads and so we, one and all, remained in awe of his grasp or spiritual matters, which are the keys to ultimate enlightement and freedom, and felt so very blessed to be in his presence and hear his well-spoken words.
From those days came the spiritual treasure, the prayer which I am sharing above, a prayer that came to me and which I feel is a great asset in these days or economic and spiritual turbulence in the world. It is a good thing to read every morning and before retiring also at night and whenever one feels put off balance during the day too!
The University of Indiana at Bloomington facilitated with great expertise and wonderful arrangements for H.H. to speak and we were very comfortable in their auditorium which had been decorated appropriately for the event. (See photo below).
The lectures were very well attended. On the 3rd day, H.H. addressed us from Purdue U. and we got to see him through live-video feed on a huge screen. Both his opening lecture at Bloomington and his speaking engagement at Purdue reiterated his message of compassion as the gateway to clear mind though it is obvious that understanding the absence of "self" (as a distinct and different entity) is necessary for us to exercise true compassion. These two general lectures also were a beautiful and powerful framework to the other four sessions of teachings which were based on the text "Atisha's Lamp for the Path of Enlightement". On the last day H.H. again addressed a huge crowd, this time in a large venue, a sports arena of the U. of Indiana at Bloomington and again he amused us, entertained us, lifted our Spirits and transformed our hearts. What a blessing the whole event was and we all felt changed, uplifted and utterly blessed by his presence.
The little vacation of study and spiritual retreat also allowed me to visit with Rev. Louis Martinie, and his wonderful wife Mishlen Linden whose art work can be seen at www.loupgarouroad.com and we had two enchanted evenings together sharing our impressions of the Dalai Lama's visit to Bloomington, as well as our thoughts on the present world situation, our arts and of course Voodoo. We rekindled our spirits and discussed at length the changes and growth that have taken place in our individual practices. It has been a long time since Louis was in N.O and his expert drumming and spiritual insight are always greatly missed. Finally I was able to drive around the lovely country side, the rolling hills of sourthern Indiana where the foliage was turning colors worthy of Chango and Oya and where the mists and low clouds increased the mystic sense I already felt throughout. Lake Monroe in its misty green hues and the darkened hills beyond were like a treasure-gift of Yemaya, and also reminded me of Chinese artwork, in its subtlety, mystic grace and beauty.
I cannot begin to repeat the many teachings that were imparted by H.H. Only the prayer I can give at this time. My heart and spirit are still digesting the teachings and though I felt instantly empowered and enlivened by his presence and wonderful words of wisdom, it will take months before they are absorbed and translated fully into my spiritual works in some small ways.
However it has strengthened my resolve to offer new services and products, which have been a long time in the works and so look forward to some additional pages to the site for the New Year.
DAY OF THE DEAD:
In Voodoo we celebrate our Ancestors, daily, with prayers and offerings at the Ancestors altar. This is done all over the world in many cultures but seems to be absent in our western civilization where we are encouraged to think we appear out of nothing and have no other aim than happiness through consumerism. Though it is a good practice to live in the moment and be in the present and not worry about the past about which we can now do nothing or the future which is uncertain (the Barons always remind us of the fragility of life), yet it is also a good practice to understand and re-affirm the continuity of our world, our oneness with all others and the planet itself.
If we truly understood that our roots go back to the eternal past and our actions have repercussions in the eternal future, then there would be no war, no global warming, no inequities and atrocities in the world.
Or as we say in voodoo: we stand on our Ancestor's shoulders. And those in the future will stand on our own shoulders. How strong and peaceful and just do we make ourselves for the future?
What we mean by ancestors are all those who have come before us, like a tree has its roots which extend far beyond where the tree stands, and similarly everything we accomplish in this life-time will serve to nourish the future generations like a strong and healthy tree that is well rooted will carry many new branches and buds.
November 1st, the day after Halloween (to make hallow) is reserved each year for the celebration of the dead. In New Orleans and all over Louisiana families visit their cemeteries, often bringing wine, foods and flowers. The small cemeteries in the village of LaCombe on the borders of the lazy bayou, are ablaze with thousands of candle lights in the fashion of Mexican cemeteries and reflect the many passages of the Creoles between Louisiana ports and those of Central America, in particular Vera Cruz.
The tombs are cleaned and beautified for the occasion. The cemeteries take on a festive atmosphere and distant families gather to reminisce on their common ancestors.
In our Temples, we also beautify the Ancestors Altars, offering foods, candles, presents and flowers.
At the Madre de Agua Spiritual Temple we were happy to offer our Ancestors a Balinese Spirit House, as well as candles, French wine, flowers etc.. Music played and a bittersweet celebration filled the house.
The Ancestors' altar is the foundation of the temple and all spiritual work rests upon its shoulders so to speak. It is important to remember that whatever differences existed between our forbearers and ourselves were limited by the consciousness of the 'self" but do not exist any longer. What joins us to our ancestors is the divine spark that exists in all of us, and as such we can include everyone who ever walked on this earth, into our ancestral line. As my madrina used to say "the Spirits are not in the body, and so they do not recognize skin color". They are beings of light and spirits of nature. All colors and all forms of life are blessed by Them. They protect the planet, manifest in waters, rocks, trees, animals and ourselves.
So whereas we may construct an ancestors' altar that is highly personal with photographs of those we have known and lost, the spiritual practice itself, of caring for the altar and making offerings will remind us and carry us to that place where we know no distinction exists between our brothers and sisters the world over, where we revere our mothers the Earth and the Seas and long to reunite with the Light. We are but reflections of higher consciousness as light is reflected through a prism but originates from the true light.
Similarly the spiritual practice that identifies various Spirits (or Gods) serves to open the gate to the yearning we have to retrieve our path to the higher realm of bliss and eternal harmony.
You can read a page titled "Rites to the Ancestors" by accessing the History and Voodoo page and clicking at the top, near the picture.
THE CHANGING TIMES
Our sister temple, the Temple of Our Lady, Star of the Sea also celebrated a Day of the Dead ceremony with prayers and offerings.
And at this time we both were blessed with a "spiritual treasure" in the form of a revelation for the coming "change of time" - the advent of the new year.
We were given a specific "recipe" for a bath to be partaken on for 7 consecutive days, either the last 7 days of the present year or for the 7 beginning days of the new year (08).
As many of you know we are entering into a period of increasingly difficult times, when many natural and man-made cataclysms will occur on an ever larger scale. As I had predicted earlier, Pakistan is on the verge of collapse, politically, there have been earthquakes and floods, while other regions were in severe drought and devastated by fire. There are more political crisis and financial crisis looming as well as grave danger of even more devastating wars.
The Spiritual Bath for the Changing Times which were shared with us by our Ancestral Spirits are specific to help us transition into the level of awareness and strength which we will need to successfully embark and navigate through the coming difficult times which will last for at least the next four years. Then another transition will occur which will test us to the extreme.
We will be offering these Changing Times baths to our clients as well as to those who e-mail and ask for the gracious assistance of our Spirit Guides and Helpers.
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SPRING IS HERE - AN UPDATE FROM
MOON N' STARS GARDENS / MADRE DE AGUA SPIRITUAL TEMPLE
LaCombe, Louisiana
Since we moved over to LaCombe, LA about 6 years ago, our daily work has been to render service to the Spirits, at the altars in the temple room and at the altars of Nature. A big plus in choosing our little house was the one + acre that came with it and the lay-out of this land which had already many mature trees of uncommon beauty.
The original layout included a central driveway with a beautiful red maple (sacred to Chango) to the left, directly in front of the house.
Facing out little house, to the left was a huge camellia bush and a row of 3 full grown magnolias (sacred to Obatala). On the opposite side, beyond and behind the house and the carport, 2 more full-grown magnolias and behind the garden and water sheds (the well pump and laundry equipment) stood 3 fig trees. The whole acre was also ringed with tall pine trees, a few ailing pecans and much much MUCH wisteria and honesuckle (sacred to Yemaya and Obatala). Leading to the front and side doors were rudimentary flower beds which had been grossly neglected and had been taken over by monkey grass. In the huge backyard a meadow was spread out with a lovely Ogun shed full of old rusty garden implements, tools and pieces of iron of all sorts.
So we got to work!
A plan was formulated and after 5 years we are well onto our way to complete our overall project. This has been a constant endeavour with many MANY hours of labor and much much money spent on plants, trees, bushes, seeds, mulch, herbs and flowers. Then Katrina happened and we lost many trees (including one magnolia, one very tall white oak, part of our wonderful maple, an elm and a few pines) but the house was safeguarded and the Ogun shed stood still and after months of cutting and cleaning and hauling we are back and better!
The side flower beds are now rioting with colors: zinias, black knight, purple salvia, blue salvia, confederate rose, hibiscus, philodendron, bougainvillier, lillies, hawthorn, miniature holly, jasmine, shrimp plant, vinca, impatiens, snapdragons, marigolds, aloe vera, agave, 5 different kinds of mint, sweet basil, sweet woodruff, 2 different kinds of sage, rosemary, eucalyptus, encircle the huge sweet olive tree and its climbing red rose. The front beds are filled with Mexican heather, a gardenia, a Japanese magnolia (which this year bloomed and bloomed and is still blooming) and lots of English ivy. To the right we have added 3 more camellia bushes but one was destroyed during Katrina. The original one has given us masses of dark pink-purple flowers each winter. One of the new ones gives us off- white blooms which fade to a lovely linen color.
A small pond has been dug between the 3 holly trees directly in front of our front porch , beyond the 2 brick columns that mark the entrance to the house and an altar to Maman Brigitte has been set up there with stones, and bricks and a small concrete pagoda roof. She has been given some old bottles too and an ornamental dragon, which had come
from Louis' altars. A small bench with an arbor and a climbing jasmine is set up facing the pond and the altar so one can meditate on the Ancestors and the passage of time. This is my favorite place to sit after dark in the evening.
On the other side of the driveway we have begun a palm garden in honor of Chango. Yucca are growing , a sego palm, a Chinese lady's fan and a Mexican fan palm. We are looking to acquire at least 2 more palm trees including a Canary date palm.
A vegetable garden has been planted out of recycled containers (old washing machine tubs make great containers for planting veggies). So far we have put in cukes, and peppers and tomatoes and sunflowers and zucchini squash. A pumpkin vine is also started. We are hoping for our own veggies this summer.
Between the palm garden and the veggie garden we have established an Ancestral grove which was in a natural niche in the woods, with a nice clump of pampas grass at its entrance and a small white oak. My mother always said Pampas grass reminded her of funerals! In the ancestral grove which is a little swampy I have put in a Louisiana Bald Cypress and there are some wild star-gazer lillies that grow there every year.
In front of the grove we have put in a plum tree as a gift to Mistress Oya and to the side, on the edge of the property a Juniper was rescued (had been thrown on the side of the road by some barbarian) and is doing quite well now.
Then we have the Oshun orchard: 2 Louisiana satsumas, a navel orange, a Mexican lime and a grapefruit tree.
The landscaping, lay-out and planting of these front and side gardens took 4 years. And then Katrina came but as I said, we have now recovered and can enjoy again our lovely gardens without wringing our hands.
Of course I am skipping the hanging plants, the miniature rose garden (this one is really only just started) and more...bromeliads, indigo, cacti on the front porch and much more in pots ....
This spring, we took on a momentous task: we fenced in about 1/3 of the backyard including the woods out back (have you ever tried to unroll wire fencing through woods full of thorny vines, downed trees and weeds of every kind??) We have put up about 550 yards of fencing and we now have "The Meadowland" . This is our new habitat for our resident goats, Little Deer and Gita.
Little Deer was purchased just a year ago with a donation from a client, who had a ceremony done for Ochosi. She is therefore a gift to Ochosi and was chosen for her name but also because after surveying several goats for sale, she came to me in a dream. So she was chosen. On november 18th Little Deer gave birth to her gorgeous baby girl, Gita, white with black spots and born without horns (I understand this is quite rare). We built them a pen in the back yard but they soon outgrew it so we now have them roaming freely in The Meadowland.
This is where we lost the huge white oak (now cut up in logs for next winter fires) while the Ogun shed stood intact! Happy Goats is the word these days. They love to run and romp and browse through the woods and graze on all the wild clover. We also have some wild bunnies who regularly come out in the evening. They are very tame near us, as they sense that we wish them no harm and they also graze on the wild plants. So we will not cut this area too much but leave plenty to eat for our four-legged friends.
My grand-daughter Mikhail was the generous help in this hard task of fencing.
The fig trees have been rid off the pesky vines which had covered them for so long and are doing well again. We have started 2 different banana groves; a regular plantain grove from small shoots that were brought from New Orleans and a small grove of red banana trees (these are outside the Meadowland as we have found the goats love to eat those big fat red leaves!).
Our next projects:
Continue onto the Container Veggie Garden: we are looking to plant eggplant, gourds, yellow squash, parsley etc..
We are looking to add more camellias to the Camellia Garden, probably 3 to 5 more bushes.
We are going to expand the rose garden - I am looking for a rose called "Marmelade Sky"! Also a white rose.
And we are looking to add 2 more palm trees and one more plum tree (different variety). Also a peach tree should be added between the Citrus Garden and the Veggie Garden.
Also Mikhail has expressed the desire to begin a Bunny Habitat (the rabbit is a very auspicious animal to have around). We are today hunting for a suitable hutch and will begin on fencing a separate habitat within the Meadowland for our domesticated bunnies.
We have also begun planting white oleanders at the very front of the property - between the ditch and the picket fence.
And we will start some avocado trees (at least 2) which will be planted near the Ogun shed of course.
We are also looking for some Louisiana mayhaw trees (2) to plant in the most soggy areas as they do quite well with wet feet. One will go in our dog yard and the other in the Meadowland.
The MOON N" STARS GARDENS is where we have done our many ceremonies over the course of the last 5 years. Lave-tetes, Rogation,
Cleansings, Blessings and Bindings!. We grow our own plants, flowers, and all the altars are there, naturally arranged by the Creator and Mother Nature. As we serve in the Gardens, so we are rewarded by the play of creation and the gifts of the Spirits.
Most of this has been made possible by the generous donations of friends and clients who have sent us small and large offerings towards the purchase of plants and trees and tools and mulch and equipment.
Often times this takes the shape of a donation sent for a specific Spirit and as we purchase an offering for the specific altar, on behalf of the client, we also add a plant or a shrub or a tree to the corresponding nature altar. And so our Garden grows. And you can be assured that your gifts continue to live on and bring many blessings, particularly to those who come to our humble abode for ceremonies.
The Moon N' Stars Gardens is a healing place, a giving place and a wonderful garden born of the gift of others and of the gift of Spirit.
Here are a few photos from the Moon N" Stars Garden.
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TIBETAN MONKS' SAND MANDALA - SLIDELL - LA - March 07 -
Just this first week of march, we were graced. less than 5 miles away from us, by the presence of 9 monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in South India. The monks practice Tibetan Buddhism which incorporates classical Indian Buddhism with elements of the ancient Bons religion from old Tibet. Oh, wait! Where I have heard this before?? When catholicism (and other Christian belief systems) were imported into Africa, they meshed with elements of the ancient African tradition. Sounds similar, doesn' it? It does and it is.
So for all of us who adhere to the Buddhist principles of compassion and spiritual healing, this was a real blessing.
The Drepung Loseling monastery monks are exiled from their native Tibet. Tibet fell to the Chinese communists in 1959 and since there has been a determined and coordinated efforts by the Chinese government to eradicate Tibetan culture as well as overwhelm the very existence of the Tibetan population.
Before 1959, Tibet was a center of knowledge and spirituality. It had thousands of monasteries and nummeries under the spiritual direction of His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama. In 1959, the Chinese army invaded Tibet and massacred tens of thousands of Buddhists monks and nuns and desecrated, often completely destroying the temples and monasteries.
At that time Drepung Loseling monastery had been the largest in Tibet. It had over 10 000 monks in residence. Of those 90% were killed by the Chinese.
However a few refugees managed to re-create the spiritual center in South India and today the new monastery in exile is the refuge for many beautiful artistic and spiritual traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. At present it houses again hundreds of monks.
The Sand Mandala is a sacred healing tradition.
Over the course of several days, the monks design and "paint" a healing mandala, using millions of grains of sand. The wet sand is first colored with natural dyes, then left to dry. The colors are brilliant. On an altar, next to their painting platform, the monks have an array of small silver offering bowls in which the various sands sit.
They use beautifully designed long and narrow funnels, also silver. A small scoop of sand of one color is used at a time, A special wand is rasped against the top of the funnel and this causes a tiny stream of sand to come out at the point of the funnel, one grain at a time. Thus the monks make fantastic pictures, with brilliant shades of color, graded hues, fine curves, crescents and arabesques, all in the overall design of a mandala.
The Sacred Sand Mandala of Slidell, Louisiana, was created by the monks as an offering for peace and healing. This was only the second time that this particular mandala for healing was done. The first time it was done was in New York City, after the World Trade Center collapse, in order to dispel the negative energies there and promote healing. This time the monks brought their healing to facilitate a quicker recovery from the hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This Mandala contains the Eight Auspicious Symbols in its center. This is surrounded by 8 Auspicious Prayers which bring the various stages of healing and recovery.
Impermanence: After the entire mandala, in all its intricacies is finished, all the sand is gathered in one swoop during a closing ceremony. A little while later the sands are given to a body of water to be transported everywhere around. This symbolizes the impermanence of all things in this world.
Again there is a similarity with Voodoo: In Voodoo we trace ve-ve patterns which are mystical designs specific to the Spirits, with sand, cornmeal, various sacred powders. This mystical design contains and attracts the spiritual "ache" of the Spirits that is called upon. We make these veve before a ceremony of offerings. Then the dancers dance upon the design, thus scattering the powders to the four corners and the Ache from the Spirits is carried afar with the drum rhythms and the vibrations of the dancing feet.
The Monks also had a beautiful presentation of their sacred arts, dance and music, during one evening. We were treated to their polyphonic chanting, dancing and ritual making. They have immense grace and elegance in all they do . The dances performed were the Dance of the Black Hat Masters, the Dance of the Skeleton Lords, the Snow Lion Dance, the Dance of Celestial Travelers.
These titles also sound like they could belong in a Voodoo sacred ceremony. All the dances were performed to specific drum beats, sometimes the dancing monks themselves held small drums or bells. The dance steps always seem very grounded. Mishlen Linden volunteered "For me, its the way they 'dance', stomping on the ground, and letting their energy go INTO it-rather like a human stupa...and Tibetan rituals are all about rythum and chanting. That is, really, they do very little else, except for the hands. Which is a lot like voudoun in that they both share the same main ingredients to contact their spirts/gods/loa. They make offerings to them. "
The monks spoke of uniting fearlessness and elegance.
Now, these are qualities to live by!
During the week the Tibetan monks were in residence in Slidell, the Slidell Art League organized an exhibit of mandala made by members of the community and many of the children. A workshop on mandala designs was also offered. I myself designed and painted a mandala "In praise of Tara" which was exhibited during that week and which the monks told me they particularly liked and took photographs of.
Below are a photograph of the monks working on the sand mandala as well as a photo of my own painting "In Praise of Tara".
My painting is for sale. The profit from this sale will go to the Drepung Loseling monastery for their educational fund as the Madre de Agua Spiritual Temple is proud and honored to be the sponsor of one of the monks and refugee from Tibet.
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AN OFFERING TO DAMBALLAH - Circa 1978 -
The Ages of Womanhood As Seen Through Her Relationship With The Snake
Childhood is innocence
The Sun rises above the East
The Serpent has not yet conjured up its visions
But is just a snake to chase in the high grass
And to wear around the waist for good fortune
The Sun now just above the South
Has scorched the spirit
And fired up the heart
The snake's coolness, the Serpent's desire
Bring fascination
Is the Cloud Serpent of the Milky Way
Womanhood brings Power
And Power requires Wisdom
The snake encirculing her like a mountain
The Lady of the Serpent Skirt
Dances rites of fertility to the Rain
Sky Winds and Earth
For the Sun does not rise to the North
The aged woman knows the rumors
The Serpent is the destroyer of the Dead
Symbol of poverty and want
But as the Sun sets upon the West
She holds now all the secrets
Of the Snake around the Tree
Copyright 1979 - Severina Singh.
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ONE SEASON OF STORMS - Comments and Reflections on Katrina, Rita and Wilma - November -05.
This is an update from our season of storms. As you know we fared very well during Katrina, were truly blessed not to lose any property and have only tree damage, though this last one is very extensive and will take me months to make completely right. We also fared well with Rita which did not come here at all. Hardly any wind.
Ironically hurricane Wilma put the website out for over a week, having wiped out West Palm Beach in Florida where the host company was located. They have relocated in Wisconsin (brrrr...) We do apologize to the many clients who searched for us and worried...
I am working on the yard, little by little, cutting trees and raking and piling up the hundreds upon hundreds of branches, sticks and limbs strewn about in every direction and corner. It is a never-ending task. A little while after the storm I came across some photos I had taken of the land, trees and outdoor Temple shrines last april: it had looked superb. All I could think was "oh, it was such a lovely park!" Well, it will be a sacred park again by spring. That's the best I can do.
The news around here are not good. The city was completely devastated. It is unimaginable what has happened here. Even only 25 miles away as we are, it has been difficult to assimilate.
The first time I drove across the causeway from Mandeville (about 10 miles west of us) to Metairie (the immediate western suburb of N.O), I found a lot of damage in Metairie but like here, people were already cleaning up, gutting out wet carpets and walls and clearing debris. And a lot of that immense suburb had not been flooded. Only the parts nearer the lake. Tree damage is bad but it can be repaired. New Orleans itself was still closed. Police road-blocks everywhere, but I was able to cross over on the elevated highway to return to LaCombe through Slidell which is our eastern neighbor. From the road, the city was entirely deserted, dry and muddy and smelled overwhelmingly bad. Like passing over a giant heap of garbage. It was sad. in New Orleans east the giant carcass of a wild boar was rotting in the hot sun. But I was yet to find out how sad it could become.
Half of Slidell also became inundated up to the roof by the lake. In fact half of Slidell WAS the lake. The water receded fast but when I drove through it looked like a war zone. Like carpet bombing. Huge houses gone without a trace. camps built on water vanished. Overturned cars, trucks, sailboats sitting on top of collapsed roofs. I have hundreds of photos but nothing shows the real devastation. South Slidell also had a peculiar and nasty smell. Then I saw why: the ditches alongside the boulevard were silver from dead fish!
Our friend Voodooist Louis Martinie's house is in South Slidell, on the last street bordering the lake. Built 18 feet high, it has miraculously survived the storm and only took in about 1/2 foot of water in the front half of the house. But mold has been growing steadily since so it is also being gutted out and re-built. Louis and his wife fortunately have a second abode in Bloomington Indiana and they are now living there. Of course now they are living in one room and Louis who is a wonderful teacher, has dedicated himself to caring for severely disabled students has had his own health insurance abruptly cancelled. Louis now spends everyday dealing with the business of contractors, insurance, unemployment, red cross, fema etc.. There is much stress involved and disappointment and heart-ache.
Most of our friends have relocated elsewhere. We do not know where, and are still searching for them, trying to ascertain that they are allright.
Our area - St Tammany Parish - has recovered very well. Nothing like a hurricane to bring out all the "good ol' boys" in their pick-up truck with their chain saws, winches, hoists and nail-guns. The roads were opened the day after the storm , crews from all over the country and Canada were working on repairing the electrical grid though it did take 4 weeks to get the power back on. The phone took another week yet. Still this area in a way has been booming! There are roughly 100 000 more people living in St Tammany. Traffic has become impossible. Similarly Metairie is booming. Everything open and doing business. Shiny new cars everywhere.
But New Orleans continue to be a dead city. It opened about 3 weeks after the storm and I have been there about once a week, mostly to try and locate lost friends and acquaintances or checking on their places for them. The French Quarter which was not damaged at all is still half-empty. Bars and strip-clubs and various retail outlets are taking advantage of the many construction workers in town, insurance adjusters, subcontractors etc..
Really only the areas that were not flooded have anything and anyone there at all. These are the oldest areas of the city -those that were built closest to the river where the land is higher. Built before 1878. The French Quarter, beautiful St Charles Ave and its garden district, the Esplanade ridge and Marigny. But to find businesses open is a stretch. Electricity is still a problem. Most of the residential areas are still too damaged to house anyone and so people cannot come back and those who want to work on their houses cannot find anywhere else to live nearby. Rents have doubled and tripled. Property value is soaring in the dry areas and non-existent in the flooded areas.
But the worst part are the news: the mayor has appointed "blue ribbon " committees who are at each other's throats. The Governor has appointed more "red-ribbon" committees. Everyone has a plan but no plan is ever voted on or God forbid decided upon. The city has no money coming in - no tax base, no revenue. The state is broke. The feds are not too keen on sending money down here where corruption and cronyism is rampant. So the dead city waits and waits and people lose hope and patience and make their lives elsewhere. It is heart-breaking. An entire city disappearing before one's eyes.
The worst part of course is the levees: the dikes. They should already being re-built. Next hurricane season begins next June 1st. How depressed will people be then? Right now the huge gaps in the 17th st. canal and the Industrial canal and the London canal are still there, patched up with rocks and sandbags and held in place with temporary steel pilings. Everyone is proposing and studying and meeting and parleying and proposing some more. Lots of bickering and fighting. No money. The Corps of Engineer is in charge of repairing the levees by next June - hmm, they seem to be the ones responsible for the faulty construction already.
The last two times I went to New Orleans were the most depressing. Let's face it, it's been more than 2 months. I expected some life. But the French Quarter was deserted, the streets empty. I was driving through. It became a little late and night fell. I was leaving the French Quarter and driving up Elysian Fields towards the highway. I couldn't' figure out why I couldn't see anything. Then I realized why: not ONE single light in one single house. Miles and miles of dead houses. not a single light. No street light- or traffic signals. Nothing. I might has well have been in some deep dark forest it was so dark! And that's how it is if you leave those few areas that were not inundated. You enter the dark city - where nothing exists.
I returned just the other night - spent the day with a very dear friend who is moving to Oregon this week. Took him back to his little house in Metairie. Made a trip through New Orleans and thought I'd stop by Cafe Flora to get a cup of coffee for the road. Now that's in Marigny where there was no damage. BUT the power was out. Flora was closing and the owner Ali still offered a cup of lukewarm coffee. He explained the power goes out 2-3 times a week Sometimes for a few hours, or a day - nobody knows why exactly. Some have generators, most have candles. Many houses are burning up or rather burning down. A few every week. Suspect fires too - people losing patience.
Even outside of the dead city, the news are not encouraging. Insurance companies are not paying - not even answering phone calls. I can tell you first hand about this. Evil rumors in St Tammany that it's going to close some of its fire stations and let go some firemen - not enough money. Those areas without proper fire protection will not be able to get house insurance.
Most people are incredibly depressed, going through the motion, dazed. Many are incredibly angry too. Tempers flare. No one is happy.
The first week or two after the storm, there was a lot of euphoria. Those who had their house saved. People realizing they were alive at least. But now, it has turned to anger - mostly towards the government and the insurance companies and FEMA. FEMA is the worst.
A big part of why St Tammany and Metairie recovered so rapidly is also because the churches had donations arriving from every corner of the country - from sister churches. Some are still giving out food and clothes 7 days a week. Like giant free markets. Come and take. Help yourself, more is coming.Much much more. Our country is so wealthy and so abundant, its people so generous, it spilled over our way. There were canned foods, and dog food and winter clothing and baby items and free furniture and ....you name it, it was there for the taking. Out of depression people are hogging stuff. Out of necessity too and out of fear - hurricane season is not even over.
The Gulf coast got little attention. Our friend Karin had just sold her little house in Pearlington (about 12 miles east of Slidell). Lucky her. All of Pearlington was razed. More carpet bombing.
So was Waveland and all of downtown Bay St Louis which was an artists' colony. At least once a week, I would drive to Bay St Louis to look at art. It's all gone.I haven't been there yet, but I am assuming it is rebuilding better than New Orleans because again it will benefit from "the good ol' boys" and the churches. People do. People can. Those attitudes I saw right after the storm. The pioneer spirit. We'll make it through. It works in the country but it cannot work as well in the city. It simply cannot make a difference in the city. It works where you can clean the roads and set up a generator - it cannot work under six feet of water, it cannot work where the entire population has been displaced. The greatest tragedy was and remains Orleans, St Bernard and Plaquemines parishes.
Around here men were walking with a gun in holster and a chain saw in hand. I'm not kidding . I saw it. It was like being on the frontier. People were helping each other out too. I helped one of my neighbors out a lot: his truck was crushed under a fallen pine tree. I gave him rides everywhere: to pick up a generator, to get gas etc.. He had no money and no food. He gave us a puppy he had rescued during the worst of the storm. He's our new dog: named Stormy of course. He was offered to Babalu-Aye. He is already extraordinarely spoiled.
The storm also once more delayed the printing of Louis and my new book "Voodoo at Cafe Puce". This has truly been a sisyphusien task. But we are now confident to have a release date very very soon - before the end of the year. Interestingly it will be a record of living New Orleans Voodoo and our love or the Louisiana we knew before the storm.
Environmentally these events have many of us convinced that we are witnessing first-hand the results and consequences of global warming. It is myopic to believe that our country, not having signed the Kyoto treaty will not suffer the dire consequences of climatic changes. For anyone who is aware and has lived in Louisiana for more than 30 years, it is obvious that we are encountering more and more periods of near-draught. Whereas the area was very similar to a rain forest with daily afternoon rains throughout the whole summer, we now see 60 or more days with less than an inch of rain. It absolutely did not rain in St Tammany from August 30th (the day after Katrina) until just 2 days ago. There is a worldwide advance of the deserts, from the sub Sahara regions in a wide band all around the planet, north and south of the Equator and the tropics. As we are now fighting the Oil Wars, we will in 20 or 30 years fight the Water Wars.
But in between we will see more and more violent storms, devastating winter storms, and more and more violent hurricanes. At one point, Hurricane Rita broke all records for the lowest pressure and became the worst hurricane ever. This caused the massive evacuation of Houston and the coastal areas of east Texas and West Louisiana. More people died. More devastation, Thousands of livestock were drowned. In 04, Florida was in the path of 4 major hurricanes. This year Louisiana was in the path of 2 major CATEGORY 5 hurricanes within one month! Maybe it is time for our elected officials to re-think our commitment to our planet. There are many worthwhile organizations who work tirelessly to educate and redress the worst environmental mistakes, It is time to join forces with them and give them our support and let our elected leaders know how we feel and that they are leading us into the path of destruction.
Spiritually, I must say that there are many very very angry Spirits in New Orleans. Not only people were trapped and drowned but thousands of tombs were flooded, desecrated. Tombs were also looted though this was not mentioned on the news. Old houses, houses that were full of ghosts were also flooded, demolished, violated by looters. There is a great spiritual tumult in the city which is not being addressed.
I have received many e-mails from clients who had visited the city and who wondered if the flood was some kind of retribution for work done improperly - for crossing spiritual barriers that are not meant to be crossed. For merchants using and abusing the voodoo tradition for profits and profits only. For those creating meaningless rituals and erroneously according them power. For those claiming supernatural powers or titles they did not earn.
I was asked repeatedly and pointedly for my comments and give my opinions on the matter.
I have made it my philosophy to not comment upon any practices, product or service offered by any of the practitioners or retail outlets in the city or elsewhere. I can only comment on that which I practice, make and provide personally. Only God and the Good Spirits know the cosmic plan which we are all part of. We are in the cosmic play and must respect what we are given to observe with great reverence, awe, and most of all compassion.
Whatever the transgression made, we must address the suffering with real heart. I believe that the Universes are in a constant state of flux and we are all inoxerably driven into the final state which will be that of enlightment for every sentient being. There will be no rest until this final achievement: the liberation of every sentient being. That is the path and the blessing of the Bodhichitta. That is the only viable path I can follow.
So I remain aware of the anger of the Spirits in New Orleans, I am attuned to it and it seeps out and around the city. It permeates all that touches the city and it is there, inexorable, implacable. I continue my spiritual practices, for that is the only sane thing anyone can do at any one time.
May God and His Angels bless you all. God and His Angels bless and save the city of New Orleans and the great state of Louisiana, our beloved land.
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KATRINA / RITA STORMS UPDATE September 5, 2005
Dear Clients and Friends,
I wish to address all those I did not manage to personally write to, over the last few weeks. So many of you have written. We had e-mails pouring in from all parts of the world. Thank you!
I want to thank each and everyone for your thoughts and prayers. You all made a real difference. We have been blessed. The village of LaCombe where we live was very close to where the eye of the storm passed, directly north from N.O. There has been much much damage. An estimate of probably over 1 million trees were brought down in St Tammany Parish! The infrastructure was gone. But our house / temple was miraculously spared. Though I have eight trees uprooted and broken all around the house, there was not even a cracked window pane!!
Behind the house, there was a big 30+foot tree that seemed to have been plucked out of the ground but the Legba/Ogun shed was untouched. Not one item out of place. To the front, the maple tree was split down the middle of the trunk but St Francis and Our Lady of Guadelupe nearby were untouched, our Lady still sitting in the wedge of branches in the sweet olive tree. Amazing!!
The Spirits and Deities kept the house intact for us and we are really really grateful.
I came back home 4 hours after the storm had passed and it was very difficult even getting through. I was literally driving behind volunteers chain-sawing through the trees across the roads. Had to fork part of Bayou LaCombe which submerged the road, in a convoy.
Since I had no electricity and no water, ( our water is well water), no internet or phone lines. everything moved at a snail's pace for a while. But again, I was blessed with the generosity of my friends, when one offered the free use of his internet service on a daily basis. After 3 weeks, the electricity is finally back but still no telephone or internet at home. But we are safe and sound and my family is safe and sound. We are truly blessed.
And our service to the Loa and Orisha was not interrupted. Prayers and offerings were and are being made to the Ancestors for those who died during the storms. We pray that their journey into the realm of the Ancestors be filled with light and that they look upon us who remain with the utmost compassion.
During the first two weeks after the storm when services were still incredibly sporadic, we also found ourselves caring for neighborhood animals. The Spirit of St Francis. Thus, we have adopted our new dog: a little puppy we aptly named "Stormy". If he grows big (as we are quite unsure as which mix of breeds he might be) he will become "Storm".
We saw thousands of people from all over the country and Canada, helping in a myriad different ways. God bless them all.
Hurricane Rita turned out to be much less problematic in these parts, but we do ask that you remember all those in Southwest Louisiana, the Texas Gulf Coast and the Mississippi Gulf Coast who were truly devastated by one or the other storm. They will continue to need your help and prayers.
I lived for over 25 years in the Crescent City, I know its neighborhoods intimately having lived in the Irish Channel, the Marigny, Hollygrove, St Roch, the French Quarter and the Esplanade Ridge! Its Spirits embraced me. We are terribly wounded at the loss of New Orleans, our beloved city and our many many friends scattered away from us. We will work together to bring the city and this fabulous area back to its feet as will everyone in the country and abroad.
For those of you who wish to order products or readings, had orders in process, being shipped or just placed an order, please accept our apologies for operating a little slow right now. We beg for your patience. We will put the same attention into your special items as always. I am trying to address each one in turn and will let you know just when I will be able to ship your products. It is always a privilege to serve you.. I do answer all e-mails personally as I have always done in the past.. As always, I do each and every reading myself as well as make each and every product by hand myself, guided only by my Spirits. You can order directly or e-mail me through this website.
Obviously, my unique private tours are not available at this time.
When the bayous clear up a bit, kayak tours will be available again for those who wish to visit our beautiful marshes and make offerings to the Ancestral Spirits.
Finally, our book "Voodoo at Cafe Puce" is at the printer's right now.
The proof was over-nighted to us the day of Katrina, so it took two weeks to get here! But it now has been revised and returned, so you can expect its release date and ordering information on this website very soon..
Thank you again so very much for your generous support, care and prayers.
May God and His Angels and the Holy Spirits bless you always.
Rev. Severina
New Orleans Voodoo Crossroads & La Sirena Botanica L.L.C.
Madre de Agua Spiritual Temple.
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SAINT GENEVIEVE - PATRON SAINT OF PARIS IS WELL LOVED IN LOUISIANA.
St. Genevieve was born about the year 422, at Nanterre near Paris. She was seven years old when St. Germain of Auxerre came to her native village on his way to great Britain to combat the heresy of Pelagius. The child stood in the midst of a crowd gathered around the man of God, who singled her out and foretold her future sanctity. At her desire the holy Bishop led her to a church, accompanied by all the faithful, and consecrated her to God as a virgin.
When Attila was reported to be marching on Paris, the inhabitants of the city prepared to evacuate, but St. Genevieve persuaded them to avert the scourge by fasting and prayer, assuring them of the protection of Heaven. The event verified the prediction, for the barbarian suddenly changed the course of his march. The life of St. Genevieve was one of great austerity, constant prayer, and works of charity. She died in the year 512. Her feast day is January 3rd.
She dressed in a long flowing gown with a mantle covering her shoulders, similar to the type of garments the Blessed Mother wore. One of the symbols of this saint is a loaf of bread because she was so generous to those in need.
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XANGO IN THE MARSH
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As the hot July and August weather descended upon us, we also been witness to some terrific storms around here. Xango has made his presence heard and felt almost on a daily basis, usually in the afternoon or early evening.
A few days ago, a lighting strike came very close to our palm garden (Xango outdoor altar) and a transformer blew up so that we were without electricity for about 4 hours! But the most amazing display came on August 12th when a great portion of the Big Branch marsh was set on fire by no less than 4 distinct lighting strikes! I just happened to be driving through the village when my Spirits told me to drive down to the marsh. It was amazing to see the flames coming up from the vast expanses of floating grasses. Water and Fire. Oxun and Xango!
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OCTOBER 4 / FEAST DAY OF ORUNMILA
The gift of Orunmila told me: I am the warrior who returns from the crusade, traveling through a country which she knows is both hers and now utterly foreign. Each day she is reminded of the presence of death who is her only companion who knows anything for sure, particularly about her and her life. Two films were the most influencial single events of my childhood: Ingmar Bergman's 7th Seal and Marcel Camus Black Orpheus. Both deal with the single great riddle we try to elucidate throughout our lives, from birth onward, while trying to distract ourselves all the way with a myriad activities and things so we may not face the fact that we do not know the answer. This, we do not know. This, we cannot figure out. This, we will experience only soul first - leaving mind and body behind. And the myriad activities and things only make our souls weaker and meeker. Each attachment of the mind and body, each brick of self-importance stuck to us with the mortar of imperative duty weighs us down. The whole edifice of our life laughs at us. The Baron laughs and laughs. And waits. With a lewd gesture or two. Maman Brigitte dislodges another little pebble and the whole edifice changes again, inoxerably. Without logic. Fate occurs at random and is for the mirth of the Gods. I was given a dream of entering small groves along the way, and resting there in peace, while gathering the necessary courange and tools to re-enter the main way. But the portals to the groves, I never remember quite going through. There is no act of will or will of movement. Suddenly I am there and though from the outside they seem bare dead places of sticks and brown leaves, when I am there, I am wealthy beyond measure. These are my shifts of cousciousness which can be made for the Spirit to refresh itself, for the soul to eat and drink before resuming this weary path. The soul though is heavy as soon as it has re-entered the commonplace. The soul knows this world is a place of suffering. It is the soul who yearns for death to come - it is the ego who plays the game. But in this light and vision of day, the commonplace starves me and the edges are sharp and steely - the price for the gift is very high. It is the knowledge or our singular aloneness in a brillant, incandescent, unlimited universe. But even as death wins each successive game of chess which we play at each encounter, I tumble downward towards the irevocable madness where all personal history is erased. I pray to "un-know" all that I have been programed to think and see and believe that I know. Only then can I really embrace it all. I seek this madness, because only then the Wings of the Spirits will completely and totally take care of me. When ME ceases, I become. But probably I must die. Or not.
When I think of the gift of Orunmila, I think that it describes the path of enlighment and liberation.
( In Voodoo Orunmila is synchretized as St Francis of Assisi. Orunmila is the patron of Divination. St Francis received the call of God through a voice heard that he must repair the church of St Damian. Later he walked to Rome with several of his brothers to obtain the blessing of the Pope . However he was refused admission. It was only after the Pope had a dream where he saw a beggar holding up the Lateran (the Pope's parish) that he recognized that his dream represented the poor monk waiting outside the walls for an audience. Again this is in keeping with the call heard by St Francis. At the time St Francis was busy repairing churches and traveling throughout the countryside preaching, he would often consult and receive directives simply by opening the book of the Gospels at random.)
FROM REV. KENNETH: MORE ABOUT ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI:
He died on October 3rd, 1226, naked, on the earth with no possessions and obligations. Several witnesses report there were huge flocks of birds which spiraled in the air over his body as he lay dying, their songs filled the air. He was thoroughly useless most of his life: left the family business, never had a wife and kids or made any money or built a house or owned anything of value. He constantly associated with the poor, the unlettered, the homeless, the lepers, the criminals and outcasts of his time. Very likely, he was extremely dirty, smelled bad, had bad teeth and looked quite mad. People spit on him, threw garbage and offal at him, and generally wished him elsewhere: even as we tend to do with the poor: "not in my neighborhood". A wandering beggar most of his life, he went about Umbria and other parts of his country, generally disrupting the established order of society: inducing eligible, marriable women to enter monasteries and shave their heads, convincing merchants to give their money to the poor and themselves become beggars, talking WITH animals who were regarded as nothing but means to an end and doing all manner of upside down, crazy things. He had little use for academic learning - although literate, he never owned a Bible or Breviary - and scholastics in general made him very uncomfortable. He prefered instead to sell the books, university buildings and land and feed the poor with the proceeds. His was a non-discursive, direct and pragmatic approach to problem solving. He was madly and passionately in love with Jesus Christ and lived his life in a literal reflection of the person in the Gospels. There are many contemporary witnesses who reported that he had fleshy protuberances - like nails - in his hands and feet and a suppurating wound in his side for the last year of his life. After his death several "noble" men made so bold as to approach his bier and touch these things; one twirled it in it's hole through his hand. No other stigmatic has ever had such a stigmata. He must have been VERY difficult to live with since he was uncompromising in his philosophy and yet gentle and loving in his approach. One really could not stay angry with such a person. There were allot of people who were relieved when he died. What was subsequently erected in his name and continues to exist to this day, has little to do with him as a person. Like he cares!
"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience." - Teilhard de Chardin,S.J.
To be quite sure, to be set, fixed, & firm is to miss the point of life. - Alan Watts
Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon of St. Francis of Assisi
Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord, All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong, and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.
Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather's moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.
Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,
So useful, humble, precious and pure.
Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You my Lord through our Sister,
Mother Earth
who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.
Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon for love of You and bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace, By You Most High, they will be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm. Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,
And serve Him with great humility.
St. Francis of Assisi's prayer in praise of God given to Brother Leo
You are holy, Lord, the only God,
and Your deeds are wonderful.
You are strong.
You are great.
You are the Most High.
You are Almighty.
You, Holy Father are King of heaven and earth.
You are Three and One, Lord God, all Good.
You are Good, all Good, supreme Good, Lord God, living and true.
You are love. You are wisdom.
You are humility. You are endurance.
You are rest. You are peace.
You are joy and gladness.
You are justice and moderation.
You are all our riches, and You suffice for us.
You are beauty.
You are gentleness.
You are our protector.
You are our guardian and defender.
You are our courage. You are our haven and our hope.
You are our faith, our great consolation.
You are our eternal life, Great and Wonderful Lord,
God Almighty, Merciful Saviour.
The Meditation Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
My God and My All!
- AN ENCOUNTER WITH MARS SUMMER 2003.
- Mars, the red planet will be closest to the Earth this summer and we will have an unprecedented chance to look at it in the evening sky. Mars will rise in the east to southeastern skyaround 1 a.m. early this month, then as it rises closer and closer to midnight. the planet will go from bright to brighter. It will be seen through the end of June, July and August in the constellation of Aquarius. Throughout these moths the planet Mars will come to its closest point to the Sun (perihelion) but as the Earth will be directly between it and the Sun (opposition) it will also be at its closest point to the Earth. This will be a great time to look at Mars but we should beware of its influences upon Earthly events. Not only because of its closeness to us but also because of the very alignment of Sun, Earth and Mars. Expect upheavals of many kinds. We have already had many of the prophecies for this year fullfilled (and we certainly would love to be wrong). It seems last month, we had an earthquake every day or other day: US east coast, Algeria, Turkey,.. And an epidemic of contagious disease. Interestingly enough, it had been suggested that people take great care regarding foods and possible contamination and it does seem that the SARS epidemic is in fact linked to a virus spread through contaminated foods (the sale of civet meat in China that has been contaminated by the corolla virus).
- Regarding other planets in the skies this summer: Jupiter will be seen in the Western sky, at sunset. in the constallation of Cancer, it will be very bright. You can find it by locating the Twin Castor and Pollux in Gemini (they are also very bright) and then tracing Jupiter to the upper left of them. It will disappear soon after sunset. Saturn is now traveling slowly along the horizon, also at sunset. Look to the west/northwest. It will disappear within a couple of weeks, being to close to the sun to be seen.
- The Solstice or longest day of the year, is on June 21st. It will happen at precisely 3.10 pm. At that moment, the sun will reach its northermost point signaling the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
- This coincides with the beginning of the Feast of St John, the next 3 days (21st/22nd/23rd) are sacred to Eleggua . Strong rituals should be undertaken at this time and kept during the 3 day period. I suggest setting up or decorating the Altars on the 21st, making offerings for the opening of the roads and for protection. The 22nd can be a renewal of the offerings with special prayers for love, peace and compassion - for liberation of souls departed in the recent past. Finally the 23rd should be the great Ritual of St John¹s Eve and all drum rhythms should be played with more offerings made to Eleggua and the Warriors.
- This is also a good time to celebrate Shilibo-Nouvavou (see below) and other Spirits.
- Particular emphasis should be placed this year for protection for oneself, one¹s family, one¹s house and nation in view of the difficult times presaged for the future. Special care must be taken toward purity and integrity within the ritual space and out and an oath should be taken (and kept) to maintain this attitude for the duration . Great courage and compassion will be needed to endure and walk with grace during the next few years as the end of an age is upon us.
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- REVELATIONS OF THE LOUP-GAROU
- Last week I received a phone call ffrom Rev. Louis Maritnie who had a very interesting story.
- A while back Louis decided he would save the royalties from the publications of his book ³Waters of ³ and make an offering of them to the Haitien Loa. He felt that if he pledge this sacrifice on his honour, the Loa would bless him in return with their presence. It turned out that last week he had an appointment to meet his friend who travels regualrly to Haiti on various humanitarian causes and Louis felt that this was the appropriate time to put this very substantial offering into and envelope and pass it along to his friend so that it may go where it was destined . Littlle did he know that his friend at the very same time was bringing a very special Spirit to Louis¹ house to present to him. So that the sacrifice that was meant to be a precursor to the Spirit¹s coming really became part of an exchange at the very same moment. As Louis handed the sacrifice to his friend, so was the Spirit handed over to him. Louis was telling me this and I was struck by the words he used. He was speaking of ³keeping his word² and ³a question of honor². He really felt that this was an unmistakable instance of perfect synchornicity, a sign that the Spirit had come to him because he had kept his word and demonstrated his honor.
- So I was listening to the story told to me over the telephone. Louis was asking me if I would come over in the evening and we would make offerings to the new Spirit - a welcoming ritual. I immediately thought ³what an honor! I wouldn¹t miss it for the world!² Then I heard ³She¹s a Loup-Garou². I think I had him repeat that again.
- I did not know what to expect as I drove the lonely dark road throughout the Big Branch Marshland on my way to Louis¹ house friday night. Well, I thought, I probably won¹t take this road back, after I see this Loup-Garou. When I arrived we had some coffee and Louis brought me a drum I could play (actually a mrdnga from India) and we entered the temple room. I had brought a small offering of dark rum and 3 cigars. Louis had a glass of water and some small candles set up by the Spirit which was covered with a cloth.
- We first played the Bamboula rhythm which calls the house to order. Then he unveiled Her and we both took a long look at Her. As I said, I had not known what to expect but in spite of my best efforts, my mind had been running away with anticipation and apprehension. Who was this Spirit ? Was it really wise to go and meet Her so unprepared. Why had She come at this time? But when I looked at Her, my reaction was not fear. Yes, She is awesome, fearsome, terrible but she did not inspire uncontrollable fear in me. As we continued to drum the Voodoo rhythms to Legba and then Mami Watta,,we paused in between to discuss Her appearance in the temple. We took some time now and then to reflect and meditate. Who She might be. Where She came from .
- These are the topics and thoughts that came to us during and between the drum session:
- She is of the nature of an Ancestral Spirit and NOT that of a demoniac nature. At one point I thought ³this is what we all looked like a couple of million years ago, when we had to come out of the cave and hunt a gazelle and tear it¹s neck vein out with our fangs². Louis mentioned the intelligence that can be seen in Her eyes. Louis also was told that the Loup Garou is female - typically a woman who has not borne any children and is angry and vengeful towards the village and the other women who have children of their own. I felt that apart from the intelligence there was also an inner desperation linked with the ever present effort of survival in the natural world. Because I live in the country and so close to the marshlands, I am constantly in contact with birds, insects, lizards, frogs, possums, racoons, squirrels etc.. Our neighbor¹s hen is always in my yard because I have a compost pile that must offer a menu of delicacies for her. There¹s also a wild rabbit that feeds daily near the edge of the woods, because I don¹t use weed killers and do not mow constantly so that there is a greater variety of grasses and plants in my yard than anywhere around. But all these creatures are always hunting, or hunted. Everyone is always on the look-out for the next predator and everyone is always hunting for the next meal. This is the order of this creation. The plight of this material world from the lowliest worm to the mighty bold eagle. This is the intelligence I saw in the yellow-green eyes of the Loup- Garou. As we made offerings, Louis wondered why such a Spirit would have come to him. He was humorous: ³why not a gentle old Legba??² I gently reminded Louis that after all his practice is very much concentrated towards the Ancestral Spirits.
- Louis mentioned that Haitiens believe that the Loup-Garou was brought to Haiti from France.
- Was it meant to dissuade the slaves from running away during the night? Louis mentioned that a barren woman would have been less valuable to the slave-owner than a woman who could produce many children. The fear of turning into a Loup-Garou, of becoming possessed by such a Spirit would have been a great encouragement to women to bear many children. I told Louis I had heard of Loup-Garou in France, more specifically in the Massif Central - the oldest worn -down domes of the central mountains. We used to vacation there when I was a very young child. The mountains are crossed by rocky streams and their waters have therapeutic value. As a toddler there during the summers, I remember riding on donkeys - those stubborn beasts. This is also a country of sheep-raising and sheep-herding. As a matter of fact the Loup-Garou is found in many areas of sheep-herding throughout Europe. There would have always been native wolves preying on the flocks and at times there would have been that awesome wolf that no hunter could catch so strong and cunning was it. So elusive. Those wolves became the stuff of legends.
- These areas : the Massif Central, the foot of the Alps or the Pyrenees are also the areas were ³wild children ³ were found throughout the ages: babies suckled and raised by she-wolves. Rome was founded by the twins Remus and Romulus, raised by a She-Wolf. Could it be that the Loup-Garou sometimes killed a woman as she crossed a dangerous forest but spared her baby and gave it to a she-wolf to raise? As we continued with our drumming and our meditation and conversation, we felt more and more able to look at Her and see Her coarse hair, Her wild eyes, Her small perked ears (not horns but ears perched high and raised in alert). Her face though is quite human with a huge jawbone laden with awesome pointed , almost jagged teeth. Apart from the glow of those yellow eyes, those enormous teeth would certainly paralyze anyone with fear who would encounter the Loup-Garou anywhere, anytime.
- As I told Louis Œno, She is not frightful to me but should I find her one night driving back through the marsh, she¹ll certainly scare me to death². Yet again, in many cultures today there are people with very large strong jaws and very large and strong teeth. Only in the west has man exhibited a steady reduction of the size of the jawbone so much so that today the majority of people must have their wisdom teeth removed at adulthood. There is simply not enough room for them to grow out.
- Again, as an Ancestal Spirit, coming back to us after tens of thousands of years, maybe longer, the Loup-Garou exhibits physical traits that would have been common and extremely useful to survive in the wild. I felt that she wanted an altar of marsh grasses and a bowl of marsh water nearby. I felt she was not in uncommon territory. I told Louis that I had been wanting to plant a bold cypress in the Ancestral Grove I have set aside and which is a little swampy. Coincidentally I was given a gift certificate to Home Depot o that I am able to purchase a new young cypress this very week. I promised Louis and Loup (Her name) that the first new growth would be Hers.
- Finally we both felt that if properly propitiated She could maybe become a fierce protector. Louis said: üthe monks always say that ALL sentient beings will become liberatedý..only then...
- So we did not ask anything of Her - but simply gave our water and rum and lit the candles for liberation - for the road to take Her where she must. So, yes even the Loup--Garou, feared and maligned throughout the ages and the land can be propitiated as an Ancestral Spirit and invited into the temple where the other Ancestors live, the Buddhas reside and Marie Laveau comes to visit and sits for a spell.
- The next day , Louis and his friend conducted another ritual for Her and he was told that the Louisiana Loup-Garou is associated with the Pearl River. Of course, we all live very close. The Pearl River swamp -known as the Honey Island Swamp - is well known for itûs üswamp monsterý. Could it be in fact a Loup-Garou?? Louis and Mishlenûs house is also surrounded by marshes.. all of these marshes are connected and very closely linked by the bayous, the lakes, the Pearl River itself. The small town of Pearl River is directly north of Louisû house, less than 10 miles away. The Pearl runs to the east, Bayou Bonfouca to the West...Bayou Bonfouca, Bayou Liberty and Bayou Lacombe meander across the marshes between their house and mine. Who truly inhabits these forbidding dark lands in the dead of the night??
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REVELATIONS ON SOLSTICE DAY 2002 CONCERNING CERTAIN SPIRITUAL FORCES AND THEIR MANIFESTATIONS
SHILIBO- NOUVAVOU
Ater a particular powerful reading, I am posessed by Shilibo-Nouvavou who reveals to me his dual attributes , pendulum -like magnetic fields as the sun of Middday and the Sun of Midnight.. The darkness of the deepest watery abyss where death must take us so we transcend into eternal light. The higest of luminescent planes so that our heart must burst in its great fires, be consumed entirely to be contained once again into the tear of compassion of Olodumare and take rebirth !! So Shilibo-Novavou does contain the greatest Mysteres in pure essence. A consciousness shackled to linear thinking cannot experience the phenomenal forces of the Mysteres outside of their essential cyclic motion. That is where Knowledge, Truth is obtained, Omniscience when one gives of oneself with the purest abandon into the oscillating waves of Super Consciousness.
The Veve that has been tranmitted to me at this time is of a FULL SUN, of SouthWestern design. Entertwined through the rays of this sun is Ourosbouros.
Speaking of Ourosbouros:
One should be revealed in all one's splendor but say nothing for all true knowledge is passed on telepathically which is of course why the chief Loa is Damballah! Damballah Ouido and his mirror image/ other self/ female counterpart Aida Ouido is the snake therefore mute and dumb yet the great reservoir of TRUTH,this very truth which is the birth of the Universe in the Archetype of Ourosbouros!! Again because the snake is voiceless we are reminded of the true nature of knowledge only attained and transmitted telepathically - on the astral plane. Again in the twin personas of the male/female Damballah and Aida Ouido we contemplate the necessary fragmentation of all creation into duality which is how we experience all things but indeed NOT as they truly exist.
REVELATIONS CONCERNING THE ADORATION OF THE MAGI
Of course we all know from childhood the story of the three wise kings who came to adore the Infant in the manger in the small city of Bethlehem. Once again their presence has manifested very strongly at this time of year though they are not by far the most popular or revered in these parts of the world. I found it interesting to meditate on their origins, travels and the esoteric meanings of their historic journey. They were three and rather than kings they were Magi, though at least one of them Melchior was indeed also a King of Nubia (today part of Ethiopia). The word Magi signifies High Priest - one who is called to receive and give the highest sacraments. It is at the root of the word Magicien as well, one who knows and who can overstand and effect changes and makes sacred. Melchior was black skinned, while Jasper was light and Balthazar was of medium hue but is also known as having been the oldest and sporting a long white beard. Their convergence towards the same goal would therefore indicated the need for all races to converge upon the Prince of Peace. This is an awesome thing to consider at this very time - this beginning of a new year which is the first year of the 9 year end-cycle of an era. Just at the time that the military forces are converging on this very part of the world, we can choose to celebrate the quiet and peaceful , serene journey of three wise men, three prophets in their own time, three magiciens and seers, converging on the same hub of religious places, that which would become the birthplace of Christianity in a land also sacred to all Muslims . Here the three races come in peace and bearing gifts !!
We know that though Melchior clearly came from Nubia, Jasper is described as having come from the Empire of Ind or maybe the mountains of Kush. Balthazar certainly came from Arabia and probably was in the position of vizier to the Sultan or King. Looking up the etymology of their names we find that Melchior means king, Balthazar means protector to the king and Jasper means one who holds the treasure. They each departed on a solitary journey after having received a vision and premonition of the appearance of a great shining star as bright as a sun and which would indeed remain in the sky night and day, rivaling in brilliance with the sun¹s rays during the diurnal hours. This star was to announce the arrival on this earth of a newborn child with a very uncommon destiny. All three Magi met at some point during their journey and having compared the messages of their individual visions, they realized that their path must now join and they are called to complete the journey together to visit this child and offer their gifts unto him. Each had had a vision that covered a certain period of the life of this child. Jasper¹s vision concerned the birth and ancestry of the child. He was given the knowledge that the child was of noble descent, both his parents being descendants of King David. Jasper therefore brought a gift of gold, which represents nobility. Being the ³one who holds the tresure² would also make it a most appropriate gift from him. Balthazar¹s vision concerned the fact that this child would grow up to be a leader, a prophet, a visionary, a great teacher, an uncommon spiritual force among the people. Therefore Balthazar¹s gift was that of Frankincense, widely used in the temples to make things sacred, to conduct ceremonies and to cleanse and purify. Melchior for his part saw that though this child was to grow up to an uncommon destiny, he would nonetheless die as a man, bringing great sorrow to those around him who loved him and followed him. Melchior therefore brought a gift of Myrrh, which symbolizes grief and sorrow. Myrrh was also used to anoint the body of Christ and when resurrected into His body of Light, the disciples and his Mother were able to perceive the aroma of the myrrh about Him. Myrrh is extracted from a tree in Africa and would have been readily available to the King of Nubia.
So, although different accounts will attribute this gift to that Magi and vice versa, there is however a very logic which determines who was who and who brought what.
The feast of the Magi is on January 6th, though Jasper should be feasted on the 6th, Balthazar on the 7th and Melchior on the 8th. In Spanish speaking countries, particularly Puerto Rico and Central America, children wait for the gifts of the Magi. They line small boxes with grass as a gift for the camels and on January 6th, they awake to find the gifts the Three Kings have left for them, in gratitude for feeding their camels.
There are also lovely songs in Spanish to commemorate the blessed event.
The gift of this knowledge about the journeys of the Three Magi was brought to me by Shilibo Nouvavou right before the Christmas Holiday. As a matter of fact the posession began right at the Winter Solstice and continued till the whole story was told. It culminated with my making of a Magi doll for a client in Germany.
The story though was not quite finished.... You see, this doll was ordered from me as a gift to a friend of my client. My only clue was that this friend likes music (Brahms specifically). Oh-oh... I worked myself into such a frenzy over this doll, then Shilibo came and took over.. next thing I knew I was making a Magi doll. I wasn¹t sure why. After the doll was completed, I wondered which of the three Magi he was, so I looked up their names and histories and that Œs when I came across the rest of the story:
Many years after the three Great Magi had returned from their journey to Bethlehem, they saw the great shining Star above again and they knew that now it signified the time of their passing. So they gathered together and a hill was chosen in the Kingdom of Hind and agreat tomb was built therein where the Three Great Kings may be buried. After a time, the Great Queen Helene , mother to the Emperor Constantine, came upon the tomb and overstanding the identity of those buried within, she took their remains and placed them into a very richly decorated casket which she further adorned with great jewels and precious incense. She brought this fabulous casket and its sacred contents back with her to Constantinople and placed them in the church of St Sophia which was built by her son Constantine. After the death of Constantine, persecution of Christian was renewed and fearing for the fate of the holy relics, the Emperor Mauricius took the casket and brought it to the city of Milan. But in turn the inhabitants of Milan rebeled against the Emperor Frederick the First and the emperor had to ask for help in his defence of the Archbishop of Cologne, by the name of Rainald. As a token of thanks, Rainald was rewarded with the gift of the casket of the Magi which he carried with him back to the city of Cologne. Thus the holy remains of the Three Wise Kings journeyed onto Cologne and were deposited into the church of St Peter.
And so it is that I should make and send this Magi doll to Germany. How utterly fitting. He turned out to be Jasper, bearer of the gifts of gold and music. I Œm not sure it should be Brahms, maybe the music of the spheres - Holst¹s The Planets or the Symphony of the Three Worlds by Charles Ives!! Next year I am planning on having the Three Magi made and journeying around the world, bearers of gifts of Peace, Understanding, Royalty, Holiness, and the Grief of the World. Meeting up with Shilibo Nouvavou as you see was quite involved and utterly satisfying!! He is welcome within anytime He chooses to come and make his my Abode.
PROPHECY OF ARADIA
The Age of the Daughter is the final age to dawn upon the earth.
The first Age was that of the Mother, when all people worshipped the Great Goddess.
The second Age was that of the Father and the third Age is the Son. Under the Mother there arose the Goddesses and their children. With the Age of the Father arose the Gods, which ruled over the female. Then the warrior ruled the world. The Son brought love and compassion. From the Son came the Christ. Still men clung to their Father.
But when the Daughter comes, reason shall be restored. The world shall be in balance.
To herald the coming of the Daughter, every two hundred years a prophet shall arise. This prophet shall be a great teacher, and shall give life to the Old Religion. As the Daughter grows near, women will awaken. Their will shall be heard. Women will walk in the ways of men. The last of the laws, which persecute and suppress us, shall be banished. Stregheria shall rejoice.
When the Daughter begins to replace the Son, then shall My prophet come. This One shall be called the Silent Prophet. Then changes will be many. The earth will change such that one has not seen before. And there will be great renewal and upheaval.
When the Age of the Daughter replaces that of the Son, then shall She appear. And she will be thirty-six. And She will come in power.
The Silent Prophet will have established Her way. Great trial and tribulation shall befall the people of all nations.And out of the ashes will come a New World Governments shall no longer rule people. Nor shall one people oppress another. There shall be no rulers, but only teachers and counselors. No one shall possess power over another, nor shall another restrict or control any other person. The earth shall be of one people, and all will live under the rule of love, peace, and reason
MAYAN PROPHECY AND CALENDARS
Mayan Calendars
Maya priests observed the positions of the sun, moon, and stars. They made tables predicting eclipses and the orbit of the planet Venus.
The priests also used mathematics and astronomy to develop two kinds of calendars. One was a sacred almanac of 260 days. Each day was named with one of 20 day names and a number from 1 to 13. Each of the 20 day names had a god or goddess associated with it.
The priests predicted good or bad luck by studying the combinations of gods or goddesses and numbers. The Maya also had a calendar of 365 days, based on the orbit of the earth around the sun. These days were divided into 18 months of 20 days each, plus 5 days at the end of the year.
The Maya considered these last 5 days of the year to be extremely unlucky. During that period they fasted, made many sacrifices, and avoided unnecessary work.
The Maya Indians of southern Mexico and Central America used mathematics and astronomical observations to formulate two kinds of calendars--a sacred almanac of 260 days and a solar calendar of 365 days.
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