It has been an inward season for me, even as the world has burst forth in bud, bloom, and green. I'm astonished that it's almost Midsummer, and almost my ordination day. I'm pressing my dress and shawl (the one John brought from India this winter), and polishing my silver pentacle (the one Adonis brought me from Arcata) in preparation for the day. My ordination as a minister of healing arts is strictly speaking non-sectarian, but I'm pledged to the Goddess, and this is another rite of passage on that journey. I'm terribly proud of myself, and tremendously grateful.
There is an old poem that speaks of blessings raining down like blossoms. That is what life has felt like. I'm pregnant; our baby is due at the winter solstice. We conceived six months to the day after our beloved Lugh crossed over. And we've finally found our house: a sweet old house with beautiful gardens that border those of a friend--she's already suggested that we build a stone circle where our yards meet--four blocks from where we live now, in a vibrant downtown neighborhood. We move in August. Adonis is making plans for the birthing room; so far my contribution has been to order prayer flags to hang over the altar.
I've been spending a lot of time in bed, as much as I'm able, and I've been drawn to reread novels that are spiritually important to me: so far, Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver and The Mists of Avalon (though I can never bear to read the last 200 pages, after Arthur's duel in the realm of fairy). If you have suggestions for novels that have been importantly to you spiritually as a Pagan, please leave them here.
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- Inanna
- Witch and mystic, clergy, philosopher, poet, dreamer, idealist, feminist, sensualist, healer, passionate reader, thinker, seeker, progressive, lover, partner, mama, and friend. (Image by Thalia Took, used with permission)
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15 comments:
Congratulations! May you have a healthy, happy baby, and may your new home be filled with love and laughter.
I know that you do not practice Christianity, but as someone who was born on Christmas Day, may I suggest that you ensure that your child's birthday does not become forgotten in the season, even if not born on that day. My parents had everyone give me 2 presents, had my birthday party for friends about 2 weeks before, and, then, and only then, would decorate the house for Christmas. I actually had 2 birthday cakes as I recall - one at the party and one with the family on my actual birthday.
Congratulations and Many Blessings, Inanna! Capricorn babies rock! :-)
And BTW I would recommend anything by Charles deLint. Books I mean. Blessings.
Thank you, anon and Joanna! Joanna, your grandbaby Grace is a Capricorn, is she not? (I know she was born last winter...) And perhaps you are, too?
I'm not quite sure what a high-flying Gemini (Adonis) and a deep-swimming Pisces (me) are going to do with a practical, hardworking Cap, but it should be interesting. We joke that at least someone in the family will get things done. And we have lots of good Cap friends to advise us!
Yes, Grace and I are both Cap sun signs . . . but you know astrology is not that simple. :-) I'm sure you and Adonis have connections between your charts, and between yours and Baby's as well. Just wait and see! (and anyway, s/he may be a Sag, if s/he comes before Solstice. I love Sagittarians!)
I'm happy on your account Inanna!
On the books side of things, I really really love the Dune series.
The mysticism plus practical ecology, religious manipulating and politics make books you can disappear into.
Love,
Terri in Joburg
Congrats!
There are a couple of trilogies by Nora Roberts that I'm rereading - they make me feel spiritually strong, though that may just be me. If you want to look out for them, I suggest the Three SIster trilogy: Dance upon the air, Heaven and Earth, and Face the Fire.
One that really takes me away from relaity is her trilogy about Ireland- Jewels of the Sun, Tears of the Moon and Heart of the sea.
Once more, congratulations, and I hope your baby shall be healthy and happy.
Thanks for all the book recs, everyone. I've read very little of what gets called fantasy or sci fi, so it's good to have some direction!
And thanks for the baby blessings, too. For most of my life I haven't wanted children of my own, but various events have conspired to convince me otherwise (including having an awesome life partner, a beautiful nephew, and a rich spiritual life I want to share).
Yeah, Joanna, I joke about the sun sign stuff, since astrology is so complicated. Still, I identify pretty strongly as a Pisces, having several planets there. And Adonis has no earth in his chart at all! At least I have some Taurus and Virgo.... And some of our best friends have been Caps. :)
Er, I don't know why I said "have been" Caps. (Must've been thinking of my college love, whom I don't know anymore.) They still are Caps!
I'm totally psyched that I've received blessings here from Seattle, England (not much farther away than Seattle!), and South Africa. Thanks, all. The Pagan web rocks.
I had to commment, as your post seemed so parallel to the blessings in my life this midsummer...I am also expecting a baby (early october), I just bought a beautiful, small, quaint house in a "vibrant downtown neighborhood", and I have just commited to training in a particular tradition of witchcraft...
I also adore the books The Mists of Avalon and Prodigal Summer. If you haven't read it already, I recommend Kingsolver's book, "The Poisonwood Bible", which is spiritual for me in it's own unique way
be well.
Welcome Tay. If you'd like to talk more about Pagan babies and new houses, drop me an email.
I've actually been putting off reading Poisonwood Bible because I know I'm going to love it. I own it, my partner has read it...but I'm putting it off till just the right time. Kind of weird, but true.
Walking to Mercury and The Fifth Sacred Thing.
Confessions of Pagan Nun by Kate Horsley -- love it, love it, love it.
Books I've loved as a Pagan -
The White Raven by Diana L. Paxson and Celts by Elona Malterre, both retellings of famous love stories legends. I read these as a teen so they may be out of print and I can't vouch for writing quality anymore.
Firebrand by Parke Godwin is one of my favorites ever. Another Arthurian story.
For something more Greek/Roman, Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley and the very new Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin. (Actually, anything by Le Guin is goo, but Lavinia is probably the most Pagan.)
The list is getting too long. You know, at one point, I made a list on Amazon. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Witchy-Novels/lm/KP6TFS39FL3Y/ref=cm_lm_byauthor_title_full
Oops, that's Firelord by Park Godwin.
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