By Babette Lacy
As we go through life, we reach significant milestones that are often marked by some sort of celebration, a birthday party would be an example. Each year we celebrate a passage into the next, we celebrate ageing in a sense. We may celebrate the birth of a baby, or a retirement, or the passage of years of marriage.
In our culture, we are sorely lacking significant Rites of Passage. All too often in this culture we advocate a young man’s passage into manhood by a distorted sort of ritual like; have some liquor, here are the car keys, find a young woman and have a good time. Other times an event goes unnoticed, unacknowledged, unconfirmed and unfortunately, neglected. Young men and young women alike are really not coached and guided into adulthood. Imagine a culture where young adults were taught by their elders what it means to take on the responsibility of adulthood. Imagine being taught the roles and responsibilities of being a young adult rather than being a child. Then later, imagine being taught by those whom you respect how to take on the roll of being a mother or a father. Perhaps we would have fewer adults acting like children if we were to implement such passages. Later in life, imagine being celebrated and honored for your wisdom and knowledge. Not merely having a celebration of your contribution of time to the work force.
My view is that we need to adjust our celebrations a bit, and have celebrations that come from a more heart centered place. I think we have forgotten the real meaning of some of our celebrations. They have begun to lack significance and substance. Imagine how your life might have been different if you were taught by loving friends and family members at each of life’s vital crossroads. Imagine being lovingly and purposefully coached into the next phase of life. Perhaps then there wouldn’t be such struggle and resistance to the next phase of life. Perhaps life events would take on a deeper level of meaning and become less accidental.
The idea of the Maiden, Mother and Crone or the Man, Father, and Elder Rites of Passage is about remembering the magnitude of these stages of life. To approach these phases of life with the love and support of those who care about you is to receive a magnificent blessing.
Please join us on 10-10-10 as we celebrate the phase of life we call the Crone. This is a time when we honor the wisdom and knowledge of older women. These are women who have contributed so much to our lives; they have cared for us when we were not well, they have taught us about all aspects of life, they have nurtured our spirits, they have lead us by positive example, they have been our foundations of strength, they have been our coaches, mentors, counselors and beloved friends.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Meet the Event Imagineers
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| Francy Lamb-Dance and Frivolity |
Meet the Event Imagineers
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| Gaynol Wapotich-Our Grounding Stone |
Gaynol Wapotich was ‘croned’ in 1996. The ceremony was facilitated by her daughter, Lorene.
Talk about honor and respect. WOW!
Rev. Gaynol Wapotich, a retired Spiritualist Minister,
is a life long intuitive, healer and gifted in reading and working with energy. Her twenty-five years of professional service includes applying alternative/complementary healing techniques to clients enduring the full spectrums of challenges in all dimensions of their being. She refined her mediumship skills further through study at Arthur Findlay College in Stansted, England, where she trained with some of the United Kingdom’s most prominent mediums.
She is involved in the healing arts community as an intuitive and Hypnotherapist, Reiki Master Teacher, and CrainoSacrol Practioner and the Performing Arts as a member of the Fort Collins SOAP Troupe (Slightly Older Adult Players) and Colorado Clowns.
In her spare time, Gaynol is in-service as an elder (crone) for her daughter Lorene's girls and women programs held in the foothills of Boulder. WEBSITE:HerFeetOnTheEarth.org
Currently, Gaynol offers intuition workshops for fine tuning our intuitive power at WholeLifeCSl, WEBSITE :wholelifecsl.org.
For addition information: WEBSITE: Gaynol.com
Meet our Event Imagineers
Phyllis K. Kennemer, Ed.D.
Dr. Kennemer is an educator, an author, and a labyrinth facilitator. She has been an instructor for children and adults with teaching experience in public schools, in libraries, in colleges, and in universities. Presently she is a staff writer for Bella Spark Magazine (formerly The Healing Path Magazine), a reviewer for The Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database, and an instructor for the online course in Children’s Literature for the University of Colorado. As a Veriditas Certified Labyrinth Facilitator, Phyllis encourages people to use the labyrinth as part of their spiritual practices. She also does volunteer work for the Loveland Museum/Gallery and the Loveland Public Library.
Dr. Kennemer is an educator, an author, and a labyrinth facilitator. She has been an instructor for children and adults with teaching experience in public schools, in libraries, in colleges, and in universities. Presently she is a staff writer for Bella Spark Magazine (formerly The Healing Path Magazine), a reviewer for The Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database, and an instructor for the online course in Children’s Literature for the University of Colorado. As a Veriditas Certified Labyrinth Facilitator, Phyllis encourages people to use the labyrinth as part of their spiritual practices. She also does volunteer work for the Loveland Museum/Gallery and the Loveland Public Library.
Meet our Event Imagineers
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| Babette Lacy-Mistress of Ceremony |
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Our Bellydancer
Sylvia Reyes-Maas
Some of the things that Sylvia Reyes-Maas loves most about belly dancing……the costuming, the freedom of movement, connecting with the feminine, the opulence of the music, and the love of the dance. Belly dancing originated with women dancing for other women; it was an experience they shared to create camaraderie, it was a way to laugh and have fun. It made their bodies strong and powerful, it opened their meridian channels energetically. Women would belly dance in preparation for child birth. It made their physical body, emotional self, mental processes, and their spirit healthy.
Sylvia’s perception is that women were able to reclaim their power through belly dancing. In days past, women were not in a position of power. Because the women were so beautiful, men would ask them to dance for them. It is said that they would be paid in coins, and they would attach the coins to their garments. The best of the dancers had costumes adorned with many coins. This is one of the ways that women were able to use their authority, exercise their rights, and own their power. Now women dance because they want to dance, because they love to dance, and it still makes them strong.
Sylvia began belly dancing at the age of 50, nearly ten years ago. “What it did for me personally is that it made me love and appreciate my body more, dancing made me stop being so critical of my body. It helped me to be okay with being feminine. Belly dancing is about getting in touch with the divine feminine and the energy of loving your body. It is about getting in touch with one’s own sensuality and taking that back.” During the time that she taught belly dancing, Sylvia observed that women would gain more confidence, and have more self love. They would begin to appreciate their strength and agility. As the physical body was uplifted, the emotional self would follow. Women were continuing to reclaim their power!
Sylvia is a massage therapist practicing in Loveland, she can be reached at 970-214-2112.
Some of the things that Sylvia Reyes-Maas loves most about belly dancing……the costuming, the freedom of movement, connecting with the feminine, the opulence of the music, and the love of the dance. Belly dancing originated with women dancing for other women; it was an experience they shared to create camaraderie, it was a way to laugh and have fun. It made their bodies strong and powerful, it opened their meridian channels energetically. Women would belly dance in preparation for child birth. It made their physical body, emotional self, mental processes, and their spirit healthy.
Sylvia’s perception is that women were able to reclaim their power through belly dancing. In days past, women were not in a position of power. Because the women were so beautiful, men would ask them to dance for them. It is said that they would be paid in coins, and they would attach the coins to their garments. The best of the dancers had costumes adorned with many coins. This is one of the ways that women were able to use their authority, exercise their rights, and own their power. Now women dance because they want to dance, because they love to dance, and it still makes them strong.
Sylvia began belly dancing at the age of 50, nearly ten years ago. “What it did for me personally is that it made me love and appreciate my body more, dancing made me stop being so critical of my body. It helped me to be okay with being feminine. Belly dancing is about getting in touch with the divine feminine and the energy of loving your body. It is about getting in touch with one’s own sensuality and taking that back.” During the time that she taught belly dancing, Sylvia observed that women would gain more confidence, and have more self love. They would begin to appreciate their strength and agility. As the physical body was uplifted, the emotional self would follow. Women were continuing to reclaim their power!
Sylvia is a massage therapist practicing in Loveland, she can be reached at 970-214-2112.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Meeting the Crone
The word Crone conjures up images of wizened old hags wearing black pointy hats and cackling madly. As a feminine archetype the Crone has gotten some pretty bad press mostly being portrayed as a woman who likes eating small children and indulging in other unsavory habits. The Crone has also been portrayed as a woman past her prime, no longer fertile; vengeful and mean because her juices have all dried up. There is very little in Western culture that celebrates the Crone. She is nearly always portrayed as a jealous old woman, preying on the young. The Crone phase correlates to the bleeding phase in the menstrual cycle and the menopausal phase in a woman's life. Both of these phases focus on the flipside of physical fertility; a time when women can focus on themselves rather than constantly nurturing others. Being a Crone can be liberating, once you get over the cultural conditioning to be Mother.
The main work or theme of the Crone phase is release and letting go. The Crone understands the importance of death and renewal. She understands that without death, release and letting go, there can be no renewal and fresh starts.
With experience she has learned to recognize what it is that needs to be released so that you can move forward. This experience lends wisdom and maturity and an intimate understanding of the nature and inevitability of cycles. The Crone more than any other of the archetypes understands cycles, she knows that there is a time for all things and uses this knowledge for her own and others benefit. The Crone represents the older, more mature female who has become immune to many of the issues facing young women; the constraints of partnership, beauty, social conditioning and children. She has the freedom to live her life more fully and make choices based on what She wants rather than what others in Her life need from Her.
The Crone can be a container and guide to the darker emotions, for the companions to death and release are often pain, grief and anger. The Crone is familiar with the seedier and darker aspects of life and death for She has survived the descent into the Underworld (as the Enchantress). Knowing how to deal effectively with these important emotions is a necessary skill to harness the gifts of the Crone phase. Getting in touch with the Crone is getting in touch with that part of ourselves that is old and wise, who has seen everything, and dropped many of the pretensions, rules and limitations that society lives by. She is that part of ourselves that is infinitely understanding and compassionate yet also direct and unrelenting. The Crone sees the truth everywhere, in our lives, our relationships and our actions and She will work upon us to clear out the dross and garbage. There is strength and courage required to meet the Crone but there is also a wealth of strength, courage and wisdom to be gained from making the journey.
The main work or theme of the Crone phase is release and letting go. The Crone understands the importance of death and renewal. She understands that without death, release and letting go, there can be no renewal and fresh starts.
With experience she has learned to recognize what it is that needs to be released so that you can move forward. This experience lends wisdom and maturity and an intimate understanding of the nature and inevitability of cycles. The Crone more than any other of the archetypes understands cycles, she knows that there is a time for all things and uses this knowledge for her own and others benefit. The Crone represents the older, more mature female who has become immune to many of the issues facing young women; the constraints of partnership, beauty, social conditioning and children. She has the freedom to live her life more fully and make choices based on what She wants rather than what others in Her life need from Her.
The Crone can be a container and guide to the darker emotions, for the companions to death and release are often pain, grief and anger. The Crone is familiar with the seedier and darker aspects of life and death for She has survived the descent into the Underworld (as the Enchantress). Knowing how to deal effectively with these important emotions is a necessary skill to harness the gifts of the Crone phase. Getting in touch with the Crone is getting in touch with that part of ourselves that is old and wise, who has seen everything, and dropped many of the pretensions, rules and limitations that society lives by. She is that part of ourselves that is infinitely understanding and compassionate yet also direct and unrelenting. The Crone sees the truth everywhere, in our lives, our relationships and our actions and She will work upon us to clear out the dross and garbage. There is strength and courage required to meet the Crone but there is also a wealth of strength, courage and wisdom to be gained from making the journey.
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