EarthSpirit

The Waters of Midsummer

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EarthSpirit LogoThe EarthSpirit Newsletter Lammas 96
The Waters of Midsummer
by Anne Lafferty

Midsummer is strongly connected with water and there are many beliefs and practices involving water that are associated with this time of year. Folklore being what it is, there are some apparent contradictions in these beliefs. In most of Europe, Midsummer was either a time when you specifically went into the water of a time when you specifically did not. The belief that bathing in natural bodies of water was beneficial at this time seems to have been more widespread.

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Fall Gardening

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EarthSpirit LogoEarthSpirit Newsletter Fall 95
Fall Gardening
by Edward Crow

September fifteenth. It was almost twilight and very chilly. There might be an early frost. Half the sunflowers circling the garden had dropped their heads two weeks ago; now all were brown. But at dusk the burgeoning marigolds, almost day-glo orange and yellow, showed only a few dry petals; they could survive the night. So would the squash. The banana peppers and the skinny pointed cayennes wouldn’t. In past years the gardener rushed out to rescue the basil from the first frost threat, but not tonight because then she would come home too late from her toxic institutional job. Even so, she loves the smell and the feel of dirt and since she was beginning her fast for the equinox, she went out into the chilly garden and dug a few of her potatoes for dinner. She had to find them by memory in the near-dark because the plants were long gone.

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Honey-Curry Bread for Yule

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EarthSpirit LogoEarthSpirit Newsletter Lammas 96
Honey-Curry Bread

As served at MotherTongue’s Yule 1995 performances baked by Leona Arthen

 

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 tablespoon curry powder

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Educating Ourselves and Our Children

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EarthSpirit LogoThe EarthSpirit Newsletter Autumn 96
Educating Ourselves and Our Children
by Deirdre Pulgram Arthen

[Since the article “Home to Me” was published in the last autumn issue of EarthSpirit, I have received numerous requests for more information about our family’s relationship with our children’s schools, so I collected some thoughts to share here. We would love to hear from other families about their experiences as well, please feel free to write to us in response. ]

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FireHeart Interview with STARHAWK

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FireHeart 7 Cover for EarthSpiritSTARHAWK
Healing Our Wounds ©1993

Since the ground-breaking publication of The Spiral Dance, Starhawk has been the single most visible and influential force in the Neo-Pagan revival. Thousands of people have first learned about Witchcraft from her books and workshops. In fact, the image of Witchcraft as feminist and socially engaged is largely a product of her work. A therapist, educator and activist, Starhawk is also a restless and unconventional spirit. Not allowing herself to be limited by her previous accomplishments, she is constantly growing and looking for new fields to conquer, as she has done in her recently released novel The Fifth Sacred Thing.

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1999 Parliament of the Worlds’ Religions

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EarthSpirit LogoParliament of the Worlds Religions
December 1 – 8, 1999
Capetown South Africa
*A New Day Dawning*

In 1993 the second Parliament was held, again in Chicago. This time it was the Earth-centered spirituality which was introduced and welcomed with acknowledgment and respect for what these traditions had to offer. The week long event included workshops, services, prayer and meditation with almost every faith tradition presently in existence, concerts, cultural events, presentations from some of the world’s most respected religious leaders, notably the Dalai Lama and an assembly of religious and spiritual leaders whose members signed “Towards a Global Ethic” a document outlining principles and directives for peace, social justice and sustainability of life. EarthSpirit, along with several other organizations and tribal groups represented the Earth Religions at the Parliament and in the Assembly and signed that document.

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THE FIRST SONG: A tale of how Yule got its name

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EarthSpirit LogoEarthSpirit Newsletter Yule 94
THE FIRST SONG: A tale of how Yule got its name
by Andras Corban Arthen

This is the story of the very first song; it is a true story, as all stories are, if you believe in them. This story begins a long, long time ago, when the Earth and Sun gave birth to the first beings-the very first plants, and animals, and people. It was springtime, and the Sun shone warm and bright from his high perch above, and Earth, proud mother that she was, held and fed her newborns and relished them with tenderness and love. It was a time of joy, it was a time of great delight.

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The Flame in the Snow

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EarthSpirit LogoEarthSpirit Newsletter Winter 94
The Flame in the Snow
A Desultory Musing on an Imbolg Night
by Andras Corban Arthen

The hard-packed snow crunches underfoot. More than thirty of us, we wend our way in single file on the narrow trail along the frozen pond. All around, the woods are whisper-still, silent watchers of this curious band of darkling figures inching forward on short, halting steps.

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THEODORE MILLS, 1924 – 1996

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EarthSpirit LogoEarthSpirit Newsletter Spring 97
THEODORE MILLS, 1924 – 1996
AN APPRECIATION
by Andras Corban Arthen

Ted Mills died around midday on Wednesday, 21 February 1996. Or, more properly, he moved on to “another room” in his life, for that is how he would prefer us to speak of his passing. For thirty years, Ted played a subtle but very influential role among contemporary American witches, as a teacher, as a mentor, as an elder.
Theodore Mills

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