Blessings Sister in Goddess! Mary Daly, our most precious spinster crone is gone. Remembering Mary spans all the way back to the first Goddess gathering in Boston in the late seventies. At this very herstorical conference, about two thousand women came from all over the country. Organized by a coven called the Pomegranates, they used the University as lecture halls and a church for larger gatherings. Mary was center stage. She used to be a nun, but philosophy and independent thinking cured her from it. She was teaching. As she wanted to create a mood, she was also trying to light a candle. We witches were very happy that such a wonderful drop out from nun-hood joined the Goddess community. And still, there she was striking the match holding it to the wick, and still nothing. Now the witches were getting a little nervous. It’s important that a candle be lit with a blessing, and Mary, the ex-catholic just kept missing it… four, five matches now and still nothing. I was about to rush to her aid, but I was too far back in the hall. Witches closer to Mary approached her when finally, the seventh match lit well and the candle was lit. We all exhaled. Mary continued speaking. (we have one of her speeches recorded, find it in the D.U.) I cannot say that Mary and I became fast friends. We were a mutual respectful admiration society. She lived on the east coast, I on the west coast. Unless there was an event where both of us were speaking, we didn’t really hook up.
Until one conference at Arcadia University. Quite some time had passed since the official birth of the Goddess Movement. We both had written several books, I read hers. Finally we had coffee together at some friendly place California has so many of. I told her how much I appreciated the contribution in creating our language. Digging deep into words and finding their origin. Especially, I liked the word “sin.” This word that now means offense against god, comes from the root of “es” which meant “to be.“ So the word sin means “to be.” Awesome. Other words she reclaimed for us: spinster, hag, crone. Read her Wickedary. Read all her books. When I read her books, I kept saying, Mary Come over to the witch’s side, don’t fret about the Jesuits. She did and I am so grateful. Precious Spinster Crone farewell. You have left us so much smarter than we were before. You have opened the door for the future linguists, who will discover the past in the origin of words. But nobody loved words like you did Mary. Bless your journey home. Give our love to your women’s spirituality sisters Matilda Jocelyn Gage, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and all the great ones watching us from the other side. Well done Mary! Deep peace to you now. Deep peace. I want to thank Gail Bryan for allowing us to use her photos of Mary Daly in this issue of Goddess, including the photo on the cover.
Mary Daly 1928-2010. A private burial will take place at the historic Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A public memorial event will be scheduled for spring 2010 in the Boston area. It was Mary’s hope that those who wish to celebrate her life gather in local groups to read her work and discuss its impact on their lives. Such gatherings are already taking place around the world. (marydaly.org)
My hope is that this issue of Goddess magazine and life of our sister, Mary Daly, inspires conversations in the Dianic University and on the ZBudapest-list on Yahoo. Also, please share the Goddess magazine with the women in your life! Email it to your friends, talk about it on your Facebook pages and Twitter it to the world. Help us raise global awareness for women! Just wondering, why aren’t you more active in the Dianic tradition? We have a lot of women who read this Goddess magazine every month, and it would awesome to have more of you join in with us at the Susan B. Anthony Coven #1. A membership into the world’s most famous all-women’s coven makes for a nice gift to yourself. Give it some thought and then, come join us. Blessed be,
Z Budapest
Pencil it onto your calendar now and start planning!
Help spread the word! Goddess Festival 2010
The Great Amazon MARY DALY hath crossed the Veil into the Loving Embrace of Eternity’s Perfection. The Day I learned of MARY DALY’S Passing, a grip of Existential, Feminist urgency enveloped me, and I could not hold back the potent wave of emotion invoking a morning of deep sorrow, and tears. The Great Amazon had taken HER leave for All of Eternity from this Plane; and with HER went the Radical Spirit of a Renaissance Era of Fierce Feminist Intellectual Energy and Achievement ~ thus drawing the curtain upon some Fundamental Shakti-Aspect of the explosive era of Second Wave Feminism in our 21st Century Reality. MARY DALY drew me to HER Life’s Work because of the pure essence of exciting Danger therein, honoring the Authentic Feminine Spirit and Intellect with Uncompromising Devotion. SHE as “Nagnostic” Philosopher, with a vast capacity of Intellectual Breadth and Vision living within the Feminist WORDS of POWER SHE spun, blew the safety nets of humdrum Academia from the minds of Aspiring Feminist Neophytes. Personally, as I embarked upon the University-Blessed years of my Sweet Life, MARY DALY’S Work came upon my Consciousness in a tenaciously riveting manner akin to the experience of a Profound Mentor casting Ariadne’s Thread into the Labyrinth in order to assist me as I Navigated my way through the complexes of the Established Realms of Higher Learning. Through HER Great Works, SHE Dared to Re-invent… to Re-weave… to Disclose TRUTH for all of Humanity to bear witness to… SHE Dared to Conjure and to Coax Realms blighted by the Deep Stagnation of omnipotent, “Patriarchal” Mindsets to a place of Release and Re-vitalization in order to loosen the vice-grips within the Be-ings of Radical Truth-Seekers yearning to expand Consciousness; SHE cast spells of potent force through HER Words of Power with the intention of detoxifying grotesquely entrenched, Institutionalized protocols crippling the LIFE VITALITY of Womanhood within every conceivable and inconceivable plane of Being. DALY’S capacity to INVOKE Realms of Intergalactic Dreams through the written Word and to conjure Alternate Realities of Possibility for Womankind knows no bounds. I was struck by the boldness of HER Trailblazing fearlessness to dive headlong into un-chartered
In the Spirit of this Great AMAZON, I shall be using upper case letters when referring to MARY DALY in order to illustrate HER COLLOSSAL Importance within the Feminist Movement.
realms of etymology in order to reveal the hidden gems of meaning in language use through HER scalpel-sharp method of Lucid Analysis. Furthermore, MARY DALY dared to share HER Genius within the Heart of a Patriarchal Institution as personified by Boston Collage ~ disclosing the True AMAZON SPIRIT of HER SOUL. Perhaps the most potent illustration of this Amazon Spirit of Genius was best captured for me in HER weaving of the Webster’s First New Intergalactic Wickedary of the English Language.
Webster’s First New Intergalactic Wickedary of the English Language Conjured by MARY DALY in Cahoots with Jane Caputi “The Weaving of the Wickedary is an Originally Sinful Act, for it questions and challenges the old saws/laws of the Lecherous state. It springs from the Original be-ing of women, from which patriarchal religion attempts to ‘save’ us, but which is inherently Untouchable, Inviolate, and Wild. The Wickedary, then, is a dictionary for Witches.” -MARY DALY, from the preface of the Wickedary, 1987. p.xiii. Subversive, Powerful and EXCITING, the WICKEDARY ***Gave NAMES*** to the nature and methods of Patriarchal Conditioning that invade Portals of the Feminine MIND which I had Intuited, yet had not the WORDS with which to define “said” Devitaliziation Perceived by my Womanly Soul in the Past. Floodgate within floodgate was released-within upon my initial perusal of MARY DALY’S Wickedary; I was mesmerized for hours on end by her etymological poetry - stretching into the years of this moment as the Wickedary continues to feed my Deep Womanly yearning to RECLAIM the FULL HOLISM of Our Collective LIVES as Women sapped clean by exhausting forces of Patriarchal Constructs and Control. This
Tome’s Power evades categorization, as it is at once, Feminist Grimoire, Ontological Resource, Spiritual Opus, Linguistic Holy Grail and Song of the Seven Spheres of Women’s Liberation, rolled into one!
PURE LUST: Elemental Feminist Philosophy “As Wanderlusty/Wonderlusty women weave our way Weirdward into the Realms of Pure Lust we find we must fight off the Fixers/Tricksters, those poisonous presences whose program is to freeze/frustrate our Movement. These are the Sovereigns of the sadostate, which can also be called the State of Boredom. For it is infinitely boring to be blocked from the movement of/toward one’s innately ordained happiness… This compulsion to bore everywhere bores Lusty women… Given these conditions of Stagnation, Elemental Shrews and Furies urgently experience the need for Re-Naming/Re-Claiming our stolen Flames, undoing the promethean theft of Fire, retrieving our Ravaged Desire.” -MARY DALY, PURE LUST: Elemental Feminist Philosophy, 1984. p.20. It is difficult to define the Wild Nature of the epiphanies that come upon a woman’s mind when the fiery gift of Consciousness inherent in every human being’s life is given free rein to actualize itself through wise absorption of the gynopositively written word. The gift of MARY DALY’S Holy Text, PURE LUST, when bestowed upon the brilliant, seeking mind of the Young woman unfettered by bondage and fear, has the POWER to transform Woman’s Reality simply by virtue of gifting womankind with the conceptual tools of her own Liberation. Education out-values any currency in this context. No level of social conditioning promising Patriarchal privilege and protection can ever play substitute to the pure joy of Being Alive that educated women of Freedom have outside the Patriarchal order. PURE LUST illustrates this fact succinctly by identifying the infinitesimal ways in which our Global, Patriarchal confines compromise women’s Wild Life ESSENCE to the Core. This book dares women to invoke Life-
Affirming Righteous Rage, to band together as a Sisterhood, and to not only be unapologetic about it, but to have the ELEMENTAL COURAGE to take ACTION on behalf of our precious Womanly Lives. “I have attempted to show that Racy women Sin in the most colossal and cosmic way by be-ing Elemental. Ontological Courage, then, the Courage required for Pyrosophical be-ing, is a Sin-full Virtue. Derived from the Latin cor, meaning heart, Courage is the core/heart of all Volcanic Virtues.” -MARY DALY, PURE LUST: Elemental Feminist Philosophy, 1984. p.280. Who is MARY DALY to me? For one, SHE is Eternal, and HER Throne Rests Amongst the Stars. SHE is Radical Elemental Feminist, and (to acknowledge HER personally developed moniker) a Positively REVOLTING HAG who lives on in the FEMINIST LOGOS of Womankind within and beyond this plane of Existence. MARY DALY is the modern-day Athena of my heart WHOSE Life Work spans Two Centuries! The analogy of the Olympian Tale of Athena’s Birth in its mode of Reclaimed Feminist Mythology best captures the Life of this Warrioress Foremother. Consider this… Zeus did not give birth to ATHENA; She Gestated within the Divine womb of Her TRUE Mother, Metis (meaning WISDOM) Whom the established, Patriarchal Order (ZEUS) tried to obliterate by swallowing Metis whole. Cunningly, Athena did not Perish; but instead, became the Patriarchy’s Elemental headache ~ the Omen of Feminist POWER Rising like the Phoenix from the ashes of Patriarchal Society. Athena’s Foreshadowed, ELEMENTAL SELF exploded through the controlled spheres of the Patriarchal Imagination (as personified by Zeus’s Head) that could NOT contain HER POWER; and SHE, fully armed, was READY to take on the FEMINIST QUEST of Invoking True Life-AFFIRMING Civilization where Womankind as Sister-Weavers of Culture could pave the way for GYNOPOSITIVE Visions of a Liberated Future! Sweet Mary Daly, October 16, 1928 – January 3, 2010. Requiem in Pace.
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Dianic Witches Video Contest
Tribute to Mary Daly You can make videos that change the lives of women and spread the herstory of our Dianic tradition. You too can make a difference … and we’ll reward you for it, but hurry as the offer ends Feb. 20th!
What’s a Dianic Witch? Women-born women-only who practice my flavor of Dianic Witchcraft, not some other tradition that calls themselves Dianic.
What do I have to do? You must have a clear, concise message that speaks to the topic. This contest is completely subjective, as in Z Budapest is picking the one she likes best.
Want some tips on what Z likes? Z likes a strong message, a good solid delivery, creativity, but not over done. She likes tasteful, and not over-produced videos. Be authentic. And, Z wants to see your shining faces!
How long do I have to do it? You have until February 20th, 2010. That’s nearly four months! The winner will be announced and featured in the March issue of Goddess magazine.
Video Contest:
Pick a book(s) by Z Budapest. Teach a core lesson or value of the Dianic Tradition. Include “www.ZBudapest.com” in your video verbally and visually. Post your video to Youtube.com and tag it “z budapest” and “dianic” … you can add more tags too as appropriate. Email the video’s link to zbudapest@gmail.com titled “Video Contest.”
Purpose? We want to get our own Dianics out there making videos about the Dianic Tradition. It’s important that other women hear from you personally. Our tradition is an oral tradition and it’s through word-of-mouth that other women will find it. The goal is to bring more awareness to the Dianic Tradition and to the books that teach the tradition. And, have fun doing it!
How many videos can I make? There’s no limit. We’d recommend if you want to do more than one, then do them for different books.
Want to see a great example of the type of video we’re looking for? Check out CharmingPixie Flora’s Esbat Activities video. She has a topic, she shows you the books, she tells you the value of the books in relation to the topic and she teaches you something.
How long does it have to be? The best videos will run between 3-6 minutes in length. Wanna know what you’re playing for? The winner of the Dianic Witch Video Contest will receive as first prize, a completely paid for, totally coveted, and full enrollment into the New Dianic Feminist Philosophies class in the Dianic University. That’s a $75 class and a great prize for the best of the best in this Dianic Witch Video Contest! Z is excited to see your creativity in action! So, go for it! Enjoy!
The Dianic University Online is adding new classes! If you're not studying with us, you should be. Make yourself a FREE account at the Dianic University if you haven't already done so ... do it now! Now's the time to come study with Z and her dedicated group of teachers! Tell your friends ‌ Subscribe to the Goddess magazine here. This newsletter is sponsored by the Women’s Spirituality Forum. Please help support our efforts to help keep the Goddess Alive!
Goddess Festival 2010 About the Goddess Festival On your sacred journey to the Goddess Festival, you’re struck by the beauty of the journey. The rolling hills dotted with oak trees gives way to majestic views of the California coastline as you pass over the northern part of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The air smells of the ocean’s sweet salty kiss, and you know you are getting closer. It’s exciting to take this journey. Knowing that your Sisters await your arrival and loving women’s embraces will soon enfold you. The coastline beckons you to follow the curve of her body just so she can show off her foamy white waves as she crests the rocks that provide you safety from Yeamaya’s reach. Perhaps you’d like to stop along the way to outstretch your arms and receive Her ancient female energies. Then you see the marker that starts you on your inward journey. You travel inland for a short distance. The thick oak trees soon give way to the more ancient old growth redwoods,; the ancient ones who welcome you home to yourself. The air changes again and this time it is the raw elemental of Earth that you imbibes you. She’s all around you, enfolding you deeply into Her mamma Gaia arms. She is the primal forest and the sacred land of the Susan B. Anthony Coven Number One’s covenstead. You’ve come home, Sister. Upon arrival there is the playful chaos of activities, of women nesting for their weekend’s stay. The women are already socializing and greeting each other. There are an abundance of hugs and warm smiles. Friendships begin forming from the first “hellos.” You have arrived at the Goddess Festival, into the loving care of Z Budapest, who is the original producer of the modern day Goddess Festival. You have come back to your original roots of Sisterhood, to your Amazon women. And now that you stand firmly upon this sacred land, you are glad that you took my advice to “save the date” and make the journey because it’s unlike any other experience you will have in life. On this sacred land there are women from all over the world. International flavors of ideas, concepts and woman space show themselves in sacred play and self-expression. The women wear a variety of
cultural different clothing. Some dress in t-shirts and jeans, while others put on elaborate dresses that speak of the Goddess within. All are welcomed. All are beautiful. And the Festival begins! Love and praises sing out to the Goddess. Z brings all the Sisters together. She tells them us about the rituals to come. She tells them us their parts in the sacred circle. And the spirituality of women fills the air with voices talking and singing, sharing life experiences and spiritual ideas. On During this weekend, we will come together in ritual several times. We will enjoy a variety of workshops and musical performances. We will share a communal dining hall experience, enjoying excellent meals prepared by our cooks. And we will also feast on several outdoor barbeques in during the warm California days of California. We all find the time to play and socialize as Maidens, Amazons, Mothers, Queens and Crones. Good times! Goddess art and beautiful altars line our dining hall as the vendors proudly display their wares. And a silent auction takes place as a fundraiser for the Women’s Spirituality Forum which sponsors this event to ensure that more Goddess Festivals grace women’s lives on into the future. In fact, the whole Festival is a fundraiser to help the Women’s Spirituality Forum raise awareness for the Dianic Tradition and in women’s lives. Your Festival fees are tax deductible. The rituals are powerful! Moving! Intoxicating! Photos by Sharon McCarthy, Bobbie Grennier
We dance, we sing, we chant, we scream, we drum and we play. Mostly, we empower each other as women as we share the sacred rites of passage of the divine feminine. And no other place can top the Gaia Bowl. This is the sunken earthen well in which hundreds of women can stand or sit comfortably. Created by the Coastal Native Americans, this is sacred space completely surrounded by towering redwoods. To step onto this land is to know the energies of this deeply ancient magic. Splashes of vibrant colors fill the eye as the Maidens, Amazons, Mothers, Queens and Crones form a processional and descend into the sacred well. The fabric of the women’s ceremonial clothing tells its
own spiritual tale as their gowns, robes, capes and various other clothing catch the Ancestor’s breeze. In Gaia’s Bowl you can dress colorfully and express your inner-goddess, or go skyclad in the spirit of the Amazons. All acts of love and kindness are Her expression, and it is a weekend filled with the loving spirit of all that women are capable of. Join us this year! Don’t put it off. As Sisters, we need to rejuvenate themselves ourselves and each other; it’s vital to our life-force. We need to fill our souls with the magic of ritual and renew our spirit through new friendships new and old. Mothers bring your daughters! There is no better way to strengthen your bond as women, as family, than to experience a women’s rite of passage together. It’s a divine moment you both will cherish forever. The Goddess Festival is open to all women-bornwomen. Let our women’s prayers be uttered in unison from by the sweet melodic voices of hundreds of women. Let the Earth be healed. Let women be healed. Let us all know pure joy in celebrating all that is female. Come Sisters! Come to the Goddess Festival! Come experience women’s rituals with Z Budapest, the founding Mother of the Women’s Spirituality Movement. There is no other High Priestess who can do what Z does in circle. She is magic! And so are you!
Join us! Photos by Sharon McCarthy, Susan Kullman, Bobbie Grennier
Goddess Festival 2010
This magazine is sponsored by the Women’s Spirituality Forum. Please help support our efforts to help keep the Goddess Alive!
The Application for Dianic Clergy Priestess is online
What is Z Up to Now? PantheaCon, February 12-15, 2010. PantheaCon is where Z will host the Dianic Clergy in-person training this year. And, also joining us there will be a lot of the sisters from the Susan B. Anthony Coven #1. We’d love for all of you to come join us! There’s going to be a lot of Dianics there! It would be wicked fun to have other Dianics join the fun! Here is Z’s Pantheacon Schedule: Friday the 12th you can catch Z in the vendor’s hall in the early evening doing tarot readings. Saturday the 13th at 11am Bobbie and Z are doing the Herstory of the Dianic Tradition. It’s a multimedia presentation and it’s open to both men and women. Located in the San Juan room, Z will be talking about what the Dianic tradition is really all about, including dispelling the urban myths about the tradition. You’ll want to be there for this one! And, you can catch Z again in the vendor’s hall in the early evening doing a few more tarot readings. Sunday the 14th is the day of LOVE and we’re celebrating it with the Sacred Body of Women’s Selfblessing in the San Martin/San Simeon room at 1:30pm. It’s an amazing ritual that leads all women toward self-love and acceptance towards all that is Goddess. And then, at 3:30pm that same day, Z will participate in the Earth Based Religion: Are We Really? Weiser Panel in the Fir room. Next, Z’s heading for New York and Connecticut! It’s her first big east coast tour in decades, so if you’re on the east coast save these dates! April 23-25 Z will be in Woodstock, NY at Susun Weed’s Farm where she’ll be offering her bi-annual Dianic Priestess Training weekend. This year’s intensive weekend is focused on psychic divination and prophecy skills. Z promises a fun and insightful experience for all women who attend. As we all know, Z is most famous for her Tarot Reading abilities and on this weekend, she’s going to be passing on the tradition to those who come join her there. You can register for this event here: susunweed.com/zbudapest.htm Next is the Blue Stocking Tour
April 26th Z heads upstate New York to Rochester where she’ll be visiting the Susan B. Anthony House and then later in the evening, she’ll be appearing at the Psychic's Thyme store as they host a Tarot Social event with Z. If you’re in the area, get registered with them as space is limited! April 27th Z visits the home of Elizabeth Cady Stanton in Seneca Falls and by mid-afternoon she arrives in Fayetteville, New York, where Z has been invited to speak the Matilda Joslyn Gage House by Sally Roesch Wagner, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation and the nation’s foremost authority on Matilda Joslyn Gage. All proceeds from Z’s appearance go to support the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation, so please save the date and come hear Z speak. After having just visited the herstorical homes of these three great women, Z will undoubtedly be fired up and have something to say to those who come out to hear her. April 28th – 29th Z visits friends and she winds her way to her next stop. April 30th - May 2nd Z is being honored as the keynote speaker at the Pagan Odyssey 2010 Festival in Oxford, CT. And WOW! What huge grand Pagan festival this is! It’s like Woodstock for Pagans! Located at Schreiber’s Farm in Oxford, it is held on 400 private acres of scenic rural farmland and woodlands of the Naugatuck River Valley. This festival is educational, spiritual and a chance to experience community at its finest. It includes over 60 well-known teachers, leaders and elders in attendance for lectures and hands on workshops and classes, plus over 10 concerts with a wide variety of music like Imakhu, Fleetwood Macked and more. And Z Budapest turned loose as the reigning Queen of the Witches! Lots of fun, so come join in the merriment! July 10th Z will be in Carson City, NV for a Tarot Social sponsored by the Sacred Circle, hosted by JoAnna Medina, a member of the Susan B. Anthony Coven Number One. Contact JoAnna for registration information.
Save this date for sure! September 9th – 12th, 2010 … there’s going to be another Goddess Festival! Pencil in the magickal date and manifest attending on Sept. 9-12, 2010 at the most beautiful time of the year in Northern California. We’ve created a Goddess Festival website and it’s full of information on this fabulous event, plus we are updating the Goddess Festival website a lot, so bookmark it and check back often.
Grandmothers, mothers and daughters! Goddess Festival 2010 is a fabulous event for you to share together! Every time mothers and daughters dance and sing under the stars and honor the Goddess in each other, we see the woman-bond strengthened and female relationships celebrated. Bring your daughter to Goddess Festival 2010. Get more information now!
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Tryst – Handfasting Commitment Ceremonies Z is back sisters! And she’s available to officiate your Trysting wedding ceremonies again! The most popular pagan Goddess wedding ceremony was created by Z Budapest in The Holy Book of Women's Mysteries where Z coined the term Tryst Ritual as an expressly feminine marriage ceremony and rite of passage that can be used for heterosexual couples as well as same sex couples. Z Budapest has been conducting Pagan marriage rituals for over 40 years as a celebrated High Priestess within the Dianic Tradition, which she founded. Z is available to officiate your handfasting ceremony as well. Whether it's a civil union or a licensed marriage certificate, Z is able to offer you her services as clergy. She has legal standings through the Women's Spirituality Forum, an IRS 501(c)3 non-profit in the state of California; making your clergy fees tax deductible. You can learn more about Z’s Trysting Ritual and schedule your wedding ceremony with her in 2010!
click here for info
Minoans, Amazons and the Labrys The Labrys is an ancient symbol for the Great Goddess. This symbol, as well as this axe, was found in Mediterranean civilizations three thousand to four thousand years ago. It is a double headed axe on a long center pole. In the ancient Minoan civilization it marked the entrance to a sacred place of the Goddess - a cave or a sanctuary. Archaeologists have found many, many of them on Crete, the home of the Minoan civilization, from an inch in height to twenty feet tall. The small ones are believed to have been made as devotionary objects or offerings. The labrys has even been recently discovered painted on the walls of a newly excavated city called Catal Huryuk in modern day Turkey. This city is dated at 10,000 years old. Archaeologists have discovered that this city belonged to a matriarchal culture. There is much archaeological evidence that the Minoans of Crete were a matriarchal culture, as well as a completely peaceful culture, centered on the worship of Goddess and artistic pursuits. There were no fortifications on the island at that time, no armor, no weapons found, no temples to male gods, no evidence of hierarchy. There were only priestesses in the temples. These double headed axes, or labrys, symbolized several things: a) the waxing and waning moon, b) complementary balance, like the oriental yin/yang symbol, c) going into and out of darkness and d) the butterfly, which is the symbol of transformation. The Snake Priestesses of Crete were the keepers of the Goddesses’ double axe, carried by Ariadne. The other two known Minoan Goddesses, Snake Goddess and Diktynna also carried these labrys. Since there was no war, these axes were used as weapons for sacrifice only in a ritualistic way, primarily and specifically to sacrifice bulls. It seems that these two Goddesses, the Mother Goddess and the Daughter, Diktynna and the Snake Goddess (whose name we do not yet know), were of primary importance in the Minoan culture and religion. Diktynna is also referred to in the names Britomartis and Potnia. The story of Britomartis is that She was a beautiful Goddess, relentlessly and amorously pursued by King Minos II, who couldn’t take “no” for an answer. Rather than submitting to his advances she threw
herself off a cliff, only to be captured in the nets of fishermen working below in the Aegean Sea. Thereafter, She was known as Diktynna, meaning “The Netted One.“ She was a daughter of Zeus and Karne and She invented nets for hunting. She can be compared to the Greek Artemis in attributes and character. Still in these modern times, rivers, mountains, gorges and bays all bear Her name, also the magical herb Dittany of Crete (an Oregano). The Amazons were also classically pictured wielding labrys. Roman historiographers gave various accounts of Amazon raids in Asia Minor. Herodotus placed the Amazons in a region bordering Scythia, in Sarmatia (modern territory of Ukraine). Others place them in Africa, specifically Libya, or in Pontus (modern day Turkey) near the shores of the Black Sea. The Amazons were storied to be fierce warriors, living in all female communities. The term “amazon” may be Iranian in origin: “ha-mazan” (warrior). The Greek derivation of this word meant “manless,” “without husbands.” In classical Greek, the etymology is from the word “a-mazos” meaning “without breast.” This connected to traditional stories that Amazons had their right breast cut off and cauterized to be able to use the bow and to throw spears without obstruction or limitation, which would make them quicker and more deadly in battle. And they were a part of many famous battles. The Amazons obviously did use the labrys in war. The Amazon Queen Thalestis once visited Alexander the Great and took a bit of that greatness for her own as she came away from that visit pregnant with his child. Living in an entirely female community, creating and tending all the agriculture, hunting and going into war, there was naturally, a need to continue the lines of blood. So each year, once a year, they visited neighboring tribes and thereby procreated their kind. The girl children would be kept, the boys would be taken back to their fathers to raise, killed, or left in the wilderness to fend for themselves. The Amazons were the founders of several cities, among them: Ephesus, Paphos, Sinope and Smyrna. There were other civilizations, all of them matriarchal in nature, which also had the double headed axe in their art, and used it in their rituals, as well as for practical purposes: Lydians, Lycians, Etruscans and Thracians. It must be pointed out that the root word of labrys is the same for labia (lips), uniquely feminine. All the more evidence that this was an object associated with, and in fact symbolizing the Goddess. As such, the labrys was wielded by Mary Daly, the fierce and tireless women’s historian, advocate, activist, feminist, professor and author. May she rest peacefully in the arms of the Goddess.
Goddess Festival 2010
This magazine is sponsored by the Women’s Spirituality Forum. Please help support our efforts to help keep the Goddess Alive!
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Lucina - The Lady of the Lights Star light, star bright, what are those stars I see on this cold winters night? It is the flickering of the crown of white candles that Lucina wears. Lucina wears a flowing white gown and upon her head is the crown with eight white candles. Z Budapest tells us in her book The Grandmother of Time that the candles represent the coming season equinoxes and solstices and the high points in between. Lucina’s crown of candles sits upon an evergreen wreath that is a symbol of life everlasting. Although Lucina’s day of celebration is the winter solstice it is now that we see her manifesting. The hard freeze is here. In the ice that covers the Earth we see her flowing white robe. The warmth of her candles protects the life that is growing in her womb. Soon that life will begin emerging from the ground with little green leaves and the wheel will turn. With this turning of the wheel brings back the ancient aspects of the Mother in the form of Lucina. The ancients referred to Lucina as a midwife because she brought children to the light. The ancient Romans celebrated March 1 as Matronalia. During this festival women would wear their hair loose and flowing. Any braids or knots were thought to entangle or block delivery of the child into the light. Lucina was invoked to help with an easy childbirth and healthy child. Legend has it that in the 6th century BCE King of the Sabines, Titus Tatius instituted her worship on Esquiline Hill in Rome. This is significant because Titus was a co-ruler with Romulus who was the founder of Rome. This means Lucina was well established and therefore has been around a very long time. Juno Lucina had evolved by 375 BCE when her temple on Esquiline Hill was dedicated to include the role of head of the home. This is where romance and unions join her growing list of duties. The month of June takes its name from Juno Lucina. The month of June is sacred for marriages. A marriage was considered to be a public declaration necessary for order and growth of the people individually and society as a whole. Interestingly June 4 is Rosalia which is the Festival of Roses which is a celebration of the Rose which represents the Goddess in full bloom as a sexually mature woman.
We see how Lucina has started as the beginning of the bringing of light back to the Earth and evolved into Juno Lucina a sexually mature leader of the home. Lucina fully encompasses the Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess. From the red berries on the Holly leaves as the beginning of life to the full bloom of the red rose at the level of maturity women are represented in Lucina. Lucina is the Goddess bringing us her children into the light much like the Candlemas celebrated February 2 it is the time of birthing. This is always a special time of year for me personally as my only child, a beloved daughter, was born on February 8. The Goddess is alive and she will soon be blossoming. Celebrate this season of life returning to the Earth by opening your homes and letting the sun light in. Keep evergreen’s in your home until the green returns to your yard. Keep white candles lit to honor her on your altar to say Lady Lucina we welcome you as one of our own!
Blog for the Goddess Goddess magazine is written primarily by the womyn of the Susan B Anthony Coven No 1. As Goddess womyn who come from different walks of life we are an interesting bunch to say the least! Can't get enough? Want to learn more about who we are and what we care about? Check out the SBA Blog at its new home www.GoddessLive.com. The SBA Blog is was created by Z & Bobbie as a place for the womyn of the Susan B Anthony Coven No 1 to tell the world what is going on in their lives and the world around them. It is a valuable resource for busy womyn everywhere. If you are looking for information you will find it there. Want to see something about festivals? Check out Bobbie's article on Pagan Fall Festivals. Need guidance about when to do a spell? Belou has it all put together for you in Spellwork by the Lunar Phases. Curious about current events? Boudicca has an excellent post Healthcare Reform and the Goddess. Eclecta reunited with a dear friend after quite some time and shares their experience in Full Moon Ritual. Did the Mercury Retrograde in September leave you reeling? Lady Ro helped us ride it out with grace in Making Peace with September's Mercury Retrograde. Hazel shares the importance of bridging the generation gap to understand how critical keeping womyns right to choose abortion by telling the story of a lady who did not have that right just thirty years ago. The SBA blog has something for everybody. Read the SBA Blog and learn how similar your story is with the members of the Susan B Anthony Coven No 1. You will find that we come from all corners of our Mother Earth and we are united by our experience as womyn. For those of you who feel called by the Goddess to join the Sisters of the Susan B Anthony Coven No 1 you can get more information at www.ZBudapest.com. It's a great place to grow and learn with other womyn especially for those who are solitary in practice or any womyn who is seeking to learn more about the Goddess and your birthright!
Eve of the festival of St. Brighid Oiche Fheil Bhrighide* When new life awakens in the womb of the earth, And winter's Crone becomes the Virgin of spring, Still the lingering cold draws us near to the hearth, So we call upon Brighid, and the fire that She brings! See Brighid walk in with a glowing stride, A flame of Wisdom upon Her head! Reminding the Sun she’s a mystical Bride, All clothed in white with a ribbon of red. As we move our attention from within to without, While the spell of winter continues to wane. Within the Earth's breast, new seeds shall sprout, As the Goddess renews Her green world again.
By Sharon McCarthy
Let's reclaim our bodies as a sacred shrine. Reach deep into earth and rise up to the sky. Breathe into our chakras by conscious design. Through being in rhythm our spirits will fly! Let's rekindle the fire of our inner hearth, Sweep away the ashes of past desire. Renew it with flame that has spiritual worth, So our blaze of new hope will rise up even higher. As the days grow longer, it's with joyous feeling, That we plant our own seeds of possibility. Triple Goddess of smithcraft, poetry and healingBless the flame of our candles and Blessed Be! *(oi-chi ayla vree-jida ~ anglo phonetic for the Irish Gaelic)
Goddess Festival 2010
Eco Dianic Living Eco Dianic Living means that we live the ways of the old, day in and day out. We are Dianic everyday of our lives. Recycle and reuse. Don’t litter. Stay informed on Government issues that affect Gaia and make yourself aware of the large companies that pollutes our land and water. We are not only “Dianic,”, or “Witches” when we feel like it, or only when we are in our circles. We are Dianic every day, every minute, and every second of our everyday lives. We live a certain type of lifestyle. We support nature and stay in tune with the Goddess every day. Being a Witch, and living a harmonious life is not something that happens over night. It’s something that will take time to convert to and made into your everyday life. It is something that will have an impact in virtually all faucets of your life, and striving to live by. One technique I've found useful in this situation is to take a few minutes to calm down, and then to explore your feelings. Once you understand just why the other person has upset you, and how, then you can take steps to prevent it happening again. You might even be able to tell yourself, that they meant well. Also you may wish to give the other person a thank you, for the way they taught you a lesson, and how you will not allow it to affect you again. Doing this will give you the power over the situation. As witches and followers of a nature orientated religion, it is our duty to not contribute to the pollution to Mother Earth. Here are some key points of living an Eco Dianic Life: Recycle and reuse (A lot of things can be recycled cans, bottles, paper, etc.) Dianic Wicca is a natural religion, grounded in the earth. Many Dianic rituals deal with bringing harmony and healing to nature. We share a great concern for the environment. Lead by example; if you see someone dumping trash, report him or her to the authorities and let them know it is not acceptable behavior. Organize a cleanup of your area parks and beaches. Join Green Peace or other organizations adopt a highway and keep it clean. Don’t litter and if you see something while you’re out on the ground that is not biodegradable, why not pick it up and take it to a nearby trash can? Use biodegradable products as much as possible, not plastics or Styrofoam. Stay informed of the government issues that affect our planet, make yourself aware of the large companies that pollute our land and water. Bring the subjects to light that matter and impact us over at Take Back The Night at the Dianic University Online.
By sharing a common interest with others in Dianic Wicca, you do not lose your identity as an individual. You are allowed to be the best woman that you wish to be with all of the support and love that you can possibly hope for. Dianic Wicca allows you to take your dreams, hopes, and manifest them in this reality. Remember that all is possible. The Goddess is alive and magick is afoot! Every Sister's path is different in a way. There are those that join a coven and others who are solitary. Like the ancient Shamans, we use chanting, meditation, visualization, invocation, dancing and music in our rituals. Actually, when you think about it, its concentrated meditation, thinking about what you want to achieve. Nature is the biggest part of our ritual. The altar, the herbs, the incense, and candles and even the tools we use in the ritual all have some naturalistic meaning. The ritual allows us to achieve communion with the Goddess on a spiritual and customary level. Sisters use that to the utmost advantage. In communing with the Creatrix, we can get to know ourselves more deeply than ever before.
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My theory of how men came to power ‌ or how the god got to be in control. We, Cherie and I, were talking about stuff. She said she had heard, somewhere on TV, and it's been proven women let men rule when food is scarce. I haven't found any official someone to verify this statement, but the statement is all over the internet.1 Myth? I think I'll go for it. Sounds right to me. Anyway, the theory is men could hunt while women took care of everything else. Conversely, when food wasn't a problem, women invariably ruled. Well tonight, I watched the Discovery Channel2 and they were talking about why the Egyptian Empire disappeared - very fast too, in less than one year. Ending about 6,500 years ago, Africa was lush all over the continent.3 Then, the gulf stream changed. The weather became almost arctic in places like England, France, North America and Russia. At the same time, the Sahara Desert was born. People moved towards the still running Nile. As a result of so many artistic types coming together with farmers, stone masons and everyone else of talent, the Egyptian civilization began. Goddesses were still primary but people were scared and after about 100 years of this drought the people changed. But, still they hadn't forsaken Her. The Nile made life wonderful. They still believed. People got used to each other and things moved along pretty good although there now existed wars and such. Wars weren't necessary when the Goddess ruled. Around 4,000 years later (2,500 BC), the gulf stream changed again.4 Things got so bad people ate their children. Faith was lost. Various opportunists took advantage of the situation and here we are today. Lower Egypt had water during this time. The people arriving in Lower Egypt were described as locust who would trade all their wealth for a small measure of barley. The problem now is the gulf stream has changed somewhat in 2004 when the Christmas Eve Tsunami occurred and the Earth shifted 1 degree. I find it strange no one ever talked about the shift of the earth on the weather channels.5 So, there you go in a nutshell. The problem is how do we reclaim our power? Politics is good, get involved in your community, teach your kids. People move by example. Keep this in mind as 2012 creeps up. We women might be able to use this fear to our advantage. Blessed Be Women and all Her works!
(1) http://tinyurl.com/ycqegk5 See Appendix A-1 (2) http://main.uab.edu/Sites/MediaRelations/articles/42246/ (3) http://www.euronet.nl/users/e_wesker/climate.html Climate Change; a summary of some present knowledge and theories (by Evert Wesker) http://www.telusplanet.net/public/dgarneau/indian4.htm Native American History 8000 - 3001 B.C. http://www.modot.mo.gov/ehp/MissouriPrehistory.htm Missouri USA (4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intermediate_Period Egyptian - 2,100 BC approx (5) http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/env99/env275.htm
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Dianic Priestess Tarot Weekend with Z
Becoming the Bride Western women have funny ideas about what it means to be a bride. Some consider it a Christian-based patriarchal attempt at chaining a woman to one man. Others find it to be sexist, making the female into a pretty Barbie doll. Then of course, there are those who dream and fantasize about being a bride. They imagine the colors, the fabrics, the flowers. They feel cheated if they don't get the opportunity to experience bridedom. Luckily, with the continuing rise of feminist spirituality and Goddess consciousness, we have the opportunity to reclaim yet another ancient archetype. Since February is Her month, what a wonderful time to discover what it really means to be a bride. Drum roll please. Welcome the power and energy of the original Bride, whom the term actually came from, the Goddess Brigid (also Bridgit, Brede, Bide, Bride and about ten other variations.) Her name has been heard for thousands of years, her stories told across Europe and even into the Vedas of India. Her name means "Exalted One" and she is a Goddess of fire, poetry, childbirth and spring. Her day is February 2nd (Yes, the groundhog is one of hers) she brings back the first whispers of spring. Imbolc in the Celtic tradition and Candlemas in the Christian. She was one of the few Goddesses that survived the Christian raid of the Irish Celts, simply because she was so beloved and well- known; plus the northern part of Ireland managed to fend of the Christian invaders. Although, she was then transformed from Goddess into Saint. In Ireland there are sisters, the Brigidine Nuns, who still keep her flame burning all year round in Her ancient church. We invoke her on the 2nd day of February, asking her to bring back the light, the Spring and the hope that comes with it. There are celebrations honoring her all over the world with fresh baked bread and sweet milk. But the Goddess Bride is not just for Imbolc, she is another guide for woman as they step into the ritual of commitment. It is scary to get married in this day and age. There are so many myths and weddings (especially here in Los Angeles) have become another scary multi-million dollar industry. Sisters whisper to each other, "you have to book the location a year in advance or you will lose it. You have to get a couture wedding dress. You have to weigh 20 pounds less to wear the dress. You have to invite all of your relatives or they will be insulted." It goes on and on. Fear-based tradition!
How about, instead, when a woman makes the decision to commit to a partner for life, she steps away from the modern world of materialism, and steps into the world of ritual; the Dianic world of the Tryst.
Photos by Sharon McCarthy
Invoke the Goddess Bride, you women who head to the altar. Remember, this is not a day for worrying about caterers and disc jockeys; it is another opportunity to be close to the Goddess. Think about Bride- Her fire, Her light and Her hope. Imagine Her in both her beauty and Her strength. You invoke Her as you prepare to walk this path. Let Her speak to you as She has done for so many women for so many years. Let Her prepare you, bathe you in sweet cream , whisper poetry to you and stand proudly by your side as you wear the dress that brings you closest to Her. Every ceremony we walk through as woman brings us into the eyes of the Goddess. It is not about magazines or men. Let us no longer be pressured in our weddings or our ceremonies to give in to fearbased stories. We have walked this path, committed our hearts and opened our wombs for thousands of years. As we step into February, the month of Bride, it is time to bring back another Goddess. Every woman is a bride, whether or not you actually get "married." We can all call upon this ancient queen for guidance, for blessings and for inspiration. Forget the groundhog, welcome the Bride. Become the bride as you commit to another year of learning, growing, changing, healing and transforming. And those of you who are stepping up to the altar, maybe making a lifetime commitment to another person, do not be afraid. Take time on February second to invoke Her, the original bride. No matter what obstacles you come across in planning your sacred day, trust She is near and that this is your time to shine in light. Ask Her to lend you Her fire, and She will grant it. Let Her flame guide you through this month, and the rest of your life. So mote it be.
Z Goes to Generation-z via New Media Are you plugged in to the new media social networks? You should be! If Z can do it, we all can. Twitter, Facebook and Skype are all free to use. Learn more, just click on the images to the left. If you want to be informed, get announcements of when you can participate with Z live … these are the venues Z is using. Don’t miss out … get yourself plugged in!
Z Lectures Live on Skype! Get Skype, create an account, then post your new Skype name to the DU’s Z’s Cauldron’s Skype discussion. We randomly invite those who ask to be invited to Z’s live lectures via Skype. You wanted to experience Z in person, here’s how to do it. Plug in!
In Memoriam: Esther Chavez Cano from Eve Ensler
Esther Chávez Cano is world-renowned human rights activist and long time Vagina Warrior who, for over ten years brought international attention to the horrific violence committed against women and girls in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Since 1993, over 600 women and girls have been murdered in Juarez. Chavez worked tirelessly to assist the families of these women, and to help other survivors of violence through her work as founder of Casa Amiga, a domestic violence and rape crises center. In just ten years Casa Amiga has sheltered thousands of survivors of sexual crimes and other types of violence in the border region of Chihuahua, Mexico and provides psychological counseling, medical assistance, and legal aid for the survivors of domestic violence and incest. Through Casa Amiga, Ms. Chávez Cano brought much needed education to the public on the rights of women and girls, and violence prevention. Ms. Chavez created a model, both nationally and internationally for empowering survivors of violence. She was the recipient of the 2008 National Human Rights Prize in Mexico (El Premio Nacional de los Derechos Humanos). Esther passed away on December 25, 2009. Eve wrote this memoriam in her honor:Esther Chávez Cano died early this morning, December 25, 2009. My heart hurts. I cannot imagine this world without her. She was a fierce activist and a huge part of our V-Day movement. She literally changed the world for women in Juárez, bringing the struggle of the raped, the disappeared, the discarded women and girls to global attention. She was tireless in her struggle, opening a transformational center, Casa Amiga where women were healed and empowered, taking on the authorities, often endangering her own life. Even in these last years when she was fighting cancer she remained in the struggle. One of my greatest memories of Esther is when we marched together in Juárez, thousands coming from all over the country and the world to demand justice and freedom. She gave her life for the women and girls of Juárez. She taught me about service and humility and kindness. She was a force in our movement, a leader and a beacon and we will miss her terribly. In Esther’s name, we need to keep the struggle for justice for women and girls in Juarez going.
We’ve been recruited by the San Francisco Examiner’s online news and information website to cover all topics Pagan. We’re syndicated in over 6,000 cities across the USA and Canada, and in over 160 countries. Breaking new ground, we’re the first writing team that the Examiner has allowed and we’re the first to write on Pagan topics. It’s a very big deal in terms of bringing the Goddess to a more global consciousness. We’re also looking for other women who want to write about the Goddess and Pagan topics in their own area. If you follow our advice, you can earn a little income for the Women’s Spirituality Forum, as well as for yourself and establish yourself as the Goddess voice for the Pagans in your area. You have to be able to write around four articles per week (300-500 words each). If you think you can handle that, then here’s the next step. Follow the instructions exactly please…. 1. 2. 3.
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First, go to our Examiner Referral page and choose the “Religion & Spirituality” link. Next, on top of the categories is a link to be able to choose your location … “Openings in San Francisco (Change Location)” … click it and choose the city closest to you. Now you have to choose a channel topic to write under. Sometimes there is “New Age” and “Spirituality,” but if you want “Pagan” you will have to click the link that says “Write In Your Own Topic.” Which channel is best for you really depends on what most of your articles will be about. The most general one is the “Spirituality,” and that gives you a lot of flexibility in writing. Once you chose, this brings you to the hardest part. Here, I’d suggest you do the work in a word program or something where you can write easily, Then, refresh their page, copy and paste your answers into their form. This page will time out on you. So, that’s why I’d do it on the side, refresh the page and then, past it in when ready. They ask you for your expertise, your insider knowledge and qualifications. If you’re working with the Susan B. Anthony Coven #1, the Goddess magazine, the Dianic University, etc. you can say that you’re a student of Z Budapest’s. Give them my contact info, and then let me know so I can endorse you. And the most important step is last! At the bottom of this form where it says “I was referred by an Examiner:” … here you enter Pagan Examiner. If they accept you, then the Women’s Spirituality Forum will get a few bucks as well for the referral. How cool is that?!!
Blessings to our Founding Mother Z just turned 70 years old and I'd like to pay her special tribute, not only because of the profound influence she's had on my life and the lives of others, but because she has a very special place in my heart. When I joined Susan B. Anthony Coven #1 in 2007, I considered it a special honor to work with and support Z and Bobbie. Even though I was leading my own women's circle by then, I had developed a growing need inside for more inspiration and a deeper connection with like-minded sisters in the Dianic community. I even prayed about it, and shortly after, I was led to Bobbie who led me into the coven. No accident there. When Bobbie and I met at a special memorial event, it had been many years since I attended a Circle other than my own. When I founded The Sacred Circle in 1987 I had no idea what it would become. I only knew that I needed to honor the Goddess and serve her in any way that I could. As I shared before, the Goddess touched my life through a personal mystical experience in 1985. At that time, I knew nothing about the Dianic path, only that I was sick and tired of living in this mad, sad world with a huge void inside I couldn't fill. I didn’t even know what to do with the revelation I was given on that spring day, only that I was released from a lifetime of self-bondage and it felt very, very good. I met the Goddess in my third year of recovery, when I was living a very busy life in the South Bay Area, caring for an elder aunt, raising two daughters, working in the Rehabilitation Field, going to A.A. meetings and being of service to others. Little did I know that the mystical doors were opening at that time, that I was being handed the keys to a queendom and sisterhood I never knew existed! That's when I was led to books about the Old Religion and to my amazement also shocked to discover these books even existed. I had been a tarot reader and spiritual seeker for years and never opened a book about Witchcraft or Feminism. Can you believe it? It's actually pretty funny now that I look back on it, because it shows how deep denial can be and incredibly removed from the world one can become when enmeshed in the insanity of chronic alcoholism and drug addiction! Nevertheless, the Fates led me to books about Women's Spirituality, which was the missing link to a path inwardly craved all my life... and of course, to Zsuzsanna Budapest.
In the early days I read everything I could get my hands on about the Goddess, but I resonated deeply with Z's teachings and her European background. I also began buying films on Women Spirituality and that's when I discovered Gathering the Goddesses. I can't tell you exactly how many times I watched that film and shared it with others, hundreds at least, for it was my way of learning and passing the knowledge on to other women in recovery. I loved listening to Z's wonderful accent too. Her words always inspired me because they resonated with what I already knew inside at the deepest genetic level. It was later that I began hearing about women's circles in Santa Cruz and San Francisco, meeting other sisters that honored the Goddess like Z, Starhawk and Shekhinah Mountainwater, who became a good friend and supported me in the Circle. Before starting my own coven 23 years ago, I never joined a women’s circle because there were none in my local vicinity. I had to go out-of-town to meet sisters and priestesses that were on the path. I didn't have a high priestess of my own. I initiated myself... and when my coven came together, I learned by trial and error how to organize, to priestess, to work with other sisters in a fair and harmonious way. I kept reading and studying too, learning from various authors, applying what I learned as I went along, sharing about the Goddess with sisters in recovery, doing what was in front of me... building a bridge while I was crossing it .... one day at a time. 20 years later, when I finally had the chance to sit with Z face-to-face, she called me a pioneer and welcomed me home. It felt good to hear those sweet words coming from this dear, crone sister that I had always loved and admired. For me, Z is the high priestess I never had, the teacher who shared her experience, strength and hope with me so I could pass it on to other women, because that's what I learned to do in recovery, to share my story and to serve others and I've been overpaid. How do I know? Because I've never had it so good. When I finally caught up with Z and Bobbie at our last Goddess Festival, I felt connected again. I also learned that we never stop growing or needing inspiration and support from each other. I am also very thankful for the Dianic University, because we have the opportunity to keep learning from Z on a personal level, and it's delightful. I feel fortunate to have such a wise sister-mentor in my life, one who truly understands who we are and what we go through as women, and who better to learn from than the founding mother of Women's Spirituality? Not only that, Z reminds me to be gentle with myself, to love myself, to bless myself, and that's a hard thing to do in this world. And just think, if she hadn't been inspired by Jane Harrison to revive the Dianic Tradition here in America, many of us would be in pretty bad shape along with a lot of other women I know. So thank you Z, for all you are and all you do. You are truly priceless....
Goddess Festival 2010
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The Sacred Circle has served hundreds of women for almost 25 years now... because reclaiming the Goddess and our unique mysteries as women is the only way to complete recovery from Patriarchy. Recovery Programs have given me much through the years, even saved my life, but they do not bring the deep healing and restoration a woman needs like Women's Spirituality, and probably never will. 12 Step Programs were created by men for men, using a Patriarchal Theology and belief system, and Patriarchy is what a woman needs to recover from! Sisters continue to come to the Circle because they too have a void inside they can't fill, even after years of therapy or recovery, and many I meet are astonished to discover they've been living a lying story for a very long time, so long that their souls have gotten fragmented in the process, leaving them with an emptiness that can only be remedied by reclaiming the Goddess. We also recognize the value of telling our stories in the circle, letting go of dysfunctional behaviors, working together with other sisters for the common good of all, and that's no easy task. Like Z says... sisterhood is hard, we have to work at it... and that's because we've been taught in Patriarchy to hate ourselves and each other, and old habits are hard to break. As we enter February I look forward to our Candlemas Celebration, a time of inspiration, self love and dedication, a time to welcome new sisters to the circle, to take my vows and recommit myself to the Goddess and her ancient ways, to thank the fates from bringing me to this path and to give thanks for teachers like Z who show us how to live it. What I love most about her is that she shares her personal story with us along with her wisdom and humor and that's a rare quality many teachers don't have. Sharing our stories not only helps us remember who we are, they help us embrace our humanness, mark our progress and eventually bridge the gap with all humanity. As far as I'm concerned... that's what love is really all about. So Happy Birthday Z ... and thank you for being YOU! I will be sure to light a candle in your honor at Candlemas, and pray that your days be long and strong upon the Earth, with many more birthdays to come. Let's remember Z’s words: When the Women Heal, the Earth Heals! Blessed Be. Photos by Sharon McCarthy
UPCOMING DIANIC EVENTS Pagan Examiner – Read the articles written by Bobbie and myself. Z’s Calendar of Events – Want to know where I am appearing? Goddess Festival 2010 – You think the last was good? Goddess is Alive! Pantheacon 2010 – A large number of Dianics are attending this year. Join us!
Z Budapest will be at the Wise Woman Center at Susun Weed’s Woodstock farm in New York this coming April 23-25, 2010. More information to be announced, but you can contact Susun for more information at http://www.susunweed.com/zbudapest.htm. This is Z’s bi-annual Dianic Priestess training for the east coast, and this year Z dives in with her priestesses into the world of divination and prophecy. This one intensive weekend you don’t want to miss! Z Budapest will be the keynote speaker at the Pagan Odyssey this coming Beltaine, April 30-May 2, 2010 in Oxford, CT. More information to be announced, but you can contact paganodyssey.com for details. This is Connecticut's Oldest and Largest Pagan Festival filled with concerts and over 60 pagan guest speakers with Z Budapest turned loose to have her way with the lot of them! It’s affordably priced! It’s like Woodstock for Pagans! Come join the fun!
The Dianic University for Women in Goddess Study the Dianic Tradition with Z Budapest, the woman who rebirthed it into modern culture. Classes at the Dianic University are designed for women only.
The Sacred Circle ~ Recovering & Reclaiming Ancient Ways to Heal Events in The Sacred Circle are for members only, unless otherwise stated. Call JoAnna 775-882-1599 for membership inquiries.
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Deepest Gratitude to these Sisters in Goddess for their Donations: Karen Rudolph Ghislaine Yergeau C. Roberts Christy Marsden Jennifer Reich Barbara Kennedy Kellie Matthews Gabriella Johnson Merrie Gail Foerster Wiski Lee Kimberly Beech Patty Andres Shannon Ritchie Elvira Orlando Indigo Friedlander Donna Kernes Amy Gross Maria Valenzula JoAnna Medina Leah Logan Laura Krajewski Duffy DeMore Jennifer Klesh Thanks to the donations and support of women like these, we are able to bring you monthly issues of the Goddess magazine, bi-annual Goddess Festivals, and other events sponsored by the Women’s spirituality Forum. Without their generosity, and yours, none of this would be possible to produce. We appreciate your donations, each and every time you’re able to help.
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Dianic Wiccan Clergy Priestess Overview It is the goal of the Women’s Spirituality Forum to provide our members with herstorical and philosophical foundations of the Dianic Tradition; including ritual and spiritual practices from which to provide Clergy Priestess services to the public. Dianic Tradition is an ancient Goddess and woman-centered, Earth-based, feminist denomination of Wiccan religion. We are a teaching tradition. In the Dianic Tradition, clergy are required to complete course work that enriches their understanding of the sacred feminine Craft through cognitive and practical hands-on experiences to use in their roles as clergy priestesses to the Goddess and Her women.
What is Dianic Clergy? Clergy is a Greek word meaning “heritage” and from its origins, developed into a name for the persons who kept records and practices of the heritage. In the Dianic Tradition, we refer to the Clergy Priestesses as the active keepers and practitioners of our traditions, records and practices. These are Goddess priestess women who provide spiritual support to women (and their families) worldwide; and support women’s rights as feminists.
Ordained Dianic Clergy is not the same as an Ordained Daughter of Z Budapest. Ordained Daughter is an honorary title for exemplary community service gifted by Z Budapest directly. It has no legal ties to the Women’s Spirituality Forum.
What can I do with this? Ordained Dianic Clergy can perform public rituals, including marriage rites, under the legal auspicious of the Women’s Spirituality Forum non-profit status. The Women’s Spirituality Forum, Inc. is a 501 ( c ) (3) tax-exempt religious, educational, and charitable organization. Income you earn as Dianic Clergy and keep is not tax deductible. Income you donate to the Women’s Spirituality Forum, Inc. is tax deductible. The same is true for portions of the income donated to the Women’s Spirituality Forum, Inc., but only the amount of the donated portion would be tax deductible.
What is expected from students enrolled in this program? The Women’s Spirituality Movement, which reclaimed the Dianic Tradition, was based on two principles of action; movement happens through the written word and through the physical doing. We will require both from you. Expect to produce high quality materials that you will use in your Clergy Priestess practice. We expect you complete your training in a reasonable amount of time. You may not complete this training in any less than a year and a day, and not more than three years and three days. We have made concessions for life’s complications during your period of training by allowing you longer than a year and a day to finish, but also realize that this is a very serious and intensive program for only the most dedicated of Goddess Women. Live In-person trainings are required. Online classes in the Dianic Wicca University are required. More on requirements and fees. Ordination as a Dianic Clergy Priestess is required before you will receive any acknowledgement of successful completion. This ordination must be inperson at an event of our choosing. You will be required to complete an academic body of work using a variety of mediums (written, video, audio, etc.). You will attend in-person events where you will be required to perform leadership skills and be observed. If you meet all these requirements satisfactorily, you will receive ordination as a Clergy Priestess and an official certificate. Who should apply? Women-born-women who live their lives as females, and are seeking to enrich their lives and the lives of others by becoming knowledgeable about and intending to become practicing clergy of the Dianic (Feminist) tradition of Wicca, an Earthbased theology, as founded by Zsuzsanna Budapest.
Statement of Dianic Wiccan Faith As a Goddess and woman-centered, Earth-based, feminist clergy, you must support, defend and be prepared to propagate the basic principles of Dianic Wicca as follows: 1. Maintain a living practice the Manifesto of the Susan B. Anthony Coven Number One. 2. Practice the Dianic Wiccan Rede code of ethics that honors the Earth and Her creatures, "And it harm none, do what thou wilt." 3. Honor a feminine aspect of deity.
Ethics of the Dianic Wiccan Faith
Manifesto of the Susan B. Anthony Coven Number One (Holy Book of Women’s Mysteries p.1-2)
Dangers of Magic (Holy Book of Women’s Mysteries p.10)
Only the Women’s Spirituality Forum can ordain clergy under the auspices of their non-profit status. While other non-profits might have their own clergy, their credentials are not substitutions for the training and credential of the Women’s Spirituality Forum.
The Application for Dianic Clergy Priestess is online
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Goddess Resource Links Z Budapest Website Dianic Wicca University Online Goddess Blog – Sponsored by the Susan B. Anthony Coven Z Budapest Blog Goddess Festival Susan B. Anthony Coven Dianic Wicca Tarot Social Witch Trial – the last great witch trial in America
Z's Events Schedule Z's University Calendar
Z's Books Summoning the Fates Holy Book of Women's Mysteries Celestial Wisdom Grandmother of Time Grandmother Moon Goddess in the Office Goddess in the Bedroom
Holy Book Herstory Have you ever wondered the who, what, where and when's of the creation of the Holy Book of Women's Mysteries? We've put together a web page that highlights the answers to these questions.
Please share the Goddess with your friends. Have you done your self-blessing today? We do self-blessing every day. In fact, it's the first thing I do every morning when I rise as I'm preparing to get dressed. It's good mental health. Do your self-blessings and life will be sweeter. The Self-Blessing is on page 120 of the Holy Book of Women's Mysteries.
Goddess Festival 2010
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After more than thirty years in circulation, The Holy Book of Women’s Mysteries is still a ground-breaking book in the forefront of women’s spirituality.
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CREDITS Goddess magazine layout and editing by Bobbie Grennier Photography by Sharon McCarthy, Gail Bryan, Bobbie Grennier Photoshop art by Bobbie Grennier Articles by the Susan B. Anthony Coven Number One and contributors as noted Foremother of the Women’s Spirituality Movement … Zsuzsanna Budapest Goddess magazine information page – donations, ads and contribution information can be found here. Thank you sisters who have donated $1 a month to help support our Goddess efforts! You can sponsor Goddess magazine too! Click here to help….