Diana's Bow Newsletter 1/29/09

DIANA'S BOW NEWSLETTER
January 29, 2009

The Diana's Bow phase is in Pisces, the sign of the watery planet, Neptune. A planet of illusion, dreams, inward introspection, emotions. When this phase is happening, shadow sides come to the surface if we allow them to. However for the most part, emotions are real and focused inward and hidden agendas abound. Imaginations are active, dreaming is reality and creativity is at the fore. This might morph into a creative phase, so just go with the flow. In fact, I headed to the arts and crafts store just today for some supplies for my lastest Goddess project.

Neptune is negative, watery, mutable, dreamy, altered states of consciousness, cool, flowing, heartfelt, trickling (like a fountain, the perfect "white noise," something that will lull us right to sleep), diaphanous clothing or layered colors, not unlike translucent images from the other side that we see in our dreams or dying patients describe to their loved ones.

Neptune's glyph gives us a reminder of the GOD of the planet Neptune, with it's trident shape. In the Greek and Roman Myths, whenever Neptune is mentioned and he is creating havoc of some sort, one can see the characters going through their emotional turmoils. When he is done raging, the waters (emotions) are smoothed over again.

Pisces and Neptune along with the Moon speak to us of what we allow to come to the surface and what we want to remain hidden either from others or from ourselves in our own subconscious. What is reality and what is imagination? Is there a fine line between the two? Meditation on our own inner selves and our inner work is important during this phase and what we allow out in our creative endeavors is our own expression of that. If you cannot think of anything creative to do, get your hands in something fun, if you are right handed, explore automatic writing with your left hand. Meditate and then get some finger paints and go crazy on a blank white board...get the inner, OUT!

the Tarotlaydee )0(

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Don't Have a Supreme Being, Don't Want One, Don't Need One.

I wish I believed in a huge ginormous, powerful God (of any gender). I want a Deity with some smiting mojo.

I want a God that actually does SOMETHING. That I can see, take a picture of, poke with a sharp stick. And I'm not talking about Mary on a piece of freakin' toast.

If I had to twist myself to believe in a "higher power", well, make my God a Goddess.

Women know how to spank the unruly, lick a thumb to rub out a smudge on a child's face. Women know how to deal with leaky bodies. Vomit, pus, blood, poop, pee, ear wax, and motes in eyes. Women know how to clean, and when to clean. Women know how to laugh. Deep, full, belly fat shaking laughter. Can Yaweh do that? No, didn't think so.

The classic God's laugh seems to sound more like sarcasm. Snarky snickering, behind a clenched fist. A Snidely Whiplash kind of laugh. Like we're being laughed AT.

A biblical God, doesn't do a DAMN thing! He asks someone else to do it. Can't seem to get his masculine ass off the sofa. Sends down 10 simple, easy to follow instructions, then lets human men twist 'em until there is no making sense of it, Then he goes fishing or something. God only knows what He's up to. But he certainly is NOT paying attention.

Give me a Goddess who is a plant, or some dirt, or water, or air, or a tree. A tree that grows food to eat, and cleans the air. Give me a Goddess with huge boobalas, so when I need to cry, all that needs doing is a welcoming gesture, a bit of cuddle, and a stroke or two on my old thinning hair. A warm, fresh from the dryer, down pillow feels remarkable like Goddess boobs oughta feel, don't cha think?

You can have your Old Testament God with all that useless anger, hate, and destructive power. Knock yourself out. Go ahead, hang your life on good 'ole Jehovah. Now there's a God who knows how to punish his most faithful.

Oh, by the way, you can have your sacrificial lamb too. I've read that He came down to save us all, He suffered so that we may be saved. Um, how's that working out for ya? ME? Not so much. As a matter of true, verifiable, (I have the pictures) fact,

Sheesh, He hasn't saved a freakin' thing. He came not to change the law but to fulfill it., and we're still waiting. Waiting…. Still waiting… um, change we can believe in? Waiting… waiting… And just what is he supposed to save us from? His DAD?????

Oh, and if I absolutely HAVE to eat some God flesh and blood, well, I'd rather it was the Goddess kind. I can imagine that it would taste something like apples. Or tuna.

Let me have a Goddess that I can picture stamping her foot and shaking the San Andres Fault. A Goddess whose every gaze, touch, song, and tear is manifested, visibly in our world.

If I needed an almighty (and I don't, thank you very much) I want to imagine one more like me. A deity that IS me.

A Goddess.

by Faith C. Carr
Gainesville, Florida
(You can see Faith's writings on http://www.opednews.com)
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Are Religious and Spiritual Leaders Responsible ?

As a Pastor there are many times that people from all walks of life come to
me both personally and in my position as Director of a Spiritual Wellness
Center. They come for different reasons, however, there is one thing in
common among nearly every person that comes. What is that one thing you
might ask? They come for hope. Hope for something – something better,
something different, something spiritual, something emotional, or even just
something physical. As one who is in the field of pastoral work, I would
like to think that every spiritual leader would offer the same thing as is
forefront to me. Hope.

Regardless of what spiritual journey a person is on, regardless of what
their background is, regardless of what sex they are, what age, what
economic stature they are or what sexual orientation they have – when they
come to a spiritual leader they are looking for hope. Personally I believe
that it is a responsibility to carry a message of hope to everyone who
comes seeking out help. Unfortunately, I know that not all religious and
spiritual people in pastoral positions offer that so important four letter
word.

I felt compelled to write this article because of the experience I had this
morning. I volunteer on a website that offers the public a place to ask
questions of volunteers in different categories. The public has a choice of
whether to ask the question privately or publicly. The question/comment
that I received from the site this morning was from a 13 year old young
man. He wanted to tell someone of his plans. Paraphrased from his email:
Wednesday's night he went to his hometown church (please note I have since
found out the young man was from another state) and spoke with the pastor
there. The conversation with the pastor involved the young man telling the
Pastor that he was gay. The young man's question was did God still love
him. In the young man's words he was answered that “being gay was going to
send him to hell and that God does not 'like' people who are homosexual.”

His statement to me, “If I am going to hell anyways, and the church says
God “hates” me and I can't be saved, I think suicide is the only answer. I
just thought someone should know.”

I am not exactly sure why the young man chose me to write to out of all the
spiritual people on the site but he did. I am unsure of what type of church
it was and that really is irrelevant. What is relevant ? This is not the
first time that a situation of this nature has come across my path. There
are many times that people come from different religious backgrounds and
share that judgment was passed down upon them from religious persons.
Judgment upon their sexual orientation is only one example. While I do
understand that many religions have their dogma and beliefs, I can not
fathom the idea of telling a person that they are condemned and there is no
way out.

If I am not mistaken, the basis of every religion, of every spiritual path,
is Hope. Hope in something. Something outside of themselves. Hope that can
carry them through dark days. Hope that they are not alone. Hope that
someone cares enough to listen. Hope that tomorrow is a brand new day. I
will not go into statistics of how many young people commit suicide each
year. I will not go into quoting from sacred texts. I just want to know and
understand how it is that any spiritual person, especially those who are
looked to for guidance and help, can ever tell anyone there is no hope – no
way out – nothing but condemnation.

Due to the very nature of being the Director of a Spiritual Wellness
Center, I am blessed with the opportunity to meet many beings on different
spiritual journeys. I have the opportunity to speak with many religious and
spiritual leaders of the community. I am blessed with being able to speak
with persons from different economic levels, different educational
backgrounds, different countries, different sexual orientations and
different cultures. It is my belief that anyone I have spoken with would
not have done or said the same thing to this young man. They would have
offered Hope, offered love and offered compassion.

However, I think we need as a community, especially those of us who are in
positions of leadership, whether it is spiritual leadership, educational
leadership or simply mentor leadership, to be acutely aware of what we say
to people and how we say it. We never know what the power of our word can
have. It can uplift and be a beacon of light or it can be a razor blade
that cuts deep and perhaps not only wound but kill. The power of four
letters. Hope. Love. Or Fear. Hate. They are all four letter words, it is a
matter of what weight they carry. I pray that the weight is as light as an
angels wing that carries hope and love upon it. Let us all become beacons
of light. Let us all, everyone who reads this, be a person who carries hope
and love to all that cross our paths.

I make this challenge to my brothers and sisters who are spiritual leaders
and spiritual workers. I challenge you to carry hope. Regardless of what a
person says to you. Show them hope. Show them light. Show them love.
Regardless of what sexual orientation they are. Show them hope. Show them
light. Show them love. Regardless of what spiritual journey they are on –
show them hope, light and love. I challenge you to speak of hope, light,
and love in your churches, in your temples, in your synagogues, and in your
classrooms. I challenge you to show tolerance and not judgment. I challenge
you to reach across the paths to your spiritual neighbors in your
communities and work together as one to bring hope, love, and light back
into our communities. I challenge you for one moment set aside your dogma,
set aside your sacred text, set aside all of things human and reflect upon
what is the basis of your faith. I challenge you to look deep within
yourself and ask: Is it not hope, love, and light that drew you to your
chosen spiritual journey. Is it not hope, love, and light that continues to
draw you to your spiritual beliefs and faith. I challenge you to ask
yourself how would you be received in your own spiritual places if you
walked in desperate, alone, hopeless, and lost. What would you find?

I am not asking anyone to change their faith nor their belief system. What
I am asking is is for each of us to pause a moment and reflect upon the
words we say and the actions they have. You never know the impact your
simple words will have on another human being.

Rev. Carla Goddard, B.Msc.
Director, The Center of Divine Light in Zephyrhills, Florida
http://www.thecenterofdivinelight.com/
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In the Witch's Kitchen: Imbolc
by the Wicked Witch

Imbolc, which is celebrated on February 2, is an old festival connected with the coming of Spring and the growing warmth of the Sun. In some areas of Europe, this day
marked the emergence of a few brave plants from beneath the snow. As such, Imbolc was an occasion for feasting.

Because the Sun was usually seen as the source of the Earth's fertility, Imbolc (known within Catholic circles as Candlemas) was a solar festival. Practioners of pre-
Christian religions lit fires and carried torches in ceremonial processions to urge the Sun's "return."

Appropriate foods for Imbolc are spicy and hot, in honor of the Sun. Those utilizing garlic and chili peppers are suitable, as are curried dishes.

Have a truly wonderful Sabbat, my fellow witches!

Blessings of Light and Dark,

~the Wicked Witch~

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Returning Sun Spice Bread

1 1/4 cup flour
1/8 cup poppyseeds
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 cup raisins, plain or golden
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup butter/margarine
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
3/4 cup Karo golden corn syrup
1/2 cup light brown sugar
4 tbs. milk
1 large egg, beaten
1 tsp. mixed spices**

**Equal parts of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

Sift the flour, soda, and baking powder into a non-metal bowl. Add the mixed spice and ginger. Next add the brown sugar and raisins. Mix. Make a well in the center of
the flour mixture. In a small sauce pan, melt the butter and the syrup over a low heat, then pour liquid into the well in the middle of the flour mixture. Add the beaten egg
and the milk, and mix very well. Pour into a well greased 2-lb loaf pan and bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees for 40-50 minutes. This bread can be made the night
before as it improves with age. Makes 8-10 servings.

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Imbolc Ritual Cake

13/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tbs. poppyseeds
1 tbs. grated lemon peel
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tbs. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
powdered sugar

This is all done in one pan, so clean up is a breeze! Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour, sugar, poppyseeds, baking soda, and salt with a fork in an ungreased 9"x9"x2"
baking pan. Stir in the remaining ingredients, except the powdered sugar. Bake 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, and the top is
golden brown. Remove from oven and cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Makes 8 servings.

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Sun-Kissed Carrots Baked in Foil
The following recipe is from the book: Cooking By Moonlight, A Witch's Guide to Culinary Magic, by Karri Ann Allrich.

Sweet and tender carrots infused with the inspiring scent of oranges. A hint of sunshine admist the dark of winter - just when we need it most.

1 lb carrots, scrubbed, ends trimmed, halved lengthwise, and cut into 3 inch pieces
1 medium red onion, peeled, thinly sliced
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon dried cumin or ginger (we use ginger)
1 tablespoon of orange zest
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons honey or real maple syrup
2/3 cup orange juice (fresh squeezed is nice if you have it)

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Combine the carrots, onions, sea salt, pepper, ginger or cumin, orange zest and olive oil in a large bowl, and toss to mix.

Cut two large pieces of aluminum foil to make a double thick layer. Center the carrots in the middle of the foil. Cut a piece of foil for the top, match it up and seal 3 sides
of the foil by folding up the edges and pinching tightly.

Whisk the honey and orange juice together and carefully pour the juice into the open end, then fold the foil and seal it tightly. Bake the carrots for about 40 to 50
minutes, until tender. Check for tenderness by carefully unsealing one end and testing a carrot with a fork. (Use caution when opening the foil packet. Steam will escape!)

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Curried Lamb

1 pound boneless lamb, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 cup chopped onion
3 to 4 teaspoons curry powder
2 cloves garlic
2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon instant chicken bouillon granules
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups hot cooked rice

In a large saucepan brown half of the meat in hot oil. Remove meat. Brown remaining meat with onion, curry power, and garlic till onion is tender. Return all meat to pan.

Stir in apples, bouillon granules, and 3/4 cup water. Cover; simmer for 30 to 40 minutes or till tender. Stir 1/4 cup cold water into flour; stir into saucepan. Cook and stir
till thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 1 minute more. Season to taste. Serve over rice. If desired, pass chutney, sliced green onion, raisins, shredded coconut, or chopped
peanuts. Serves 4.

Microwave directions: Omit cooking oil. In a 2-quart casserole micro-cook lamb, onion, curry powder, and garlic, covered, on 100% power (high) 5 minutes. Stir in apples,
bouillon granules, and 3/4 cup water. Cook, covered, on 50% power (medium) 15 minutes or till tender, stirring every 5 minutes. Stir 1/4 cup cold water into flour; stir into
casserole. cook on high 3 to 5 minutes or till thickened and bubbly, stirring every minute. Cook 30 seconds more. Continue as above.

Lady Aquarius
http://www.myspace.com/ladyaquarius1962
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Last weekend I attended the workshop facilitated by Tim Carr, an author from the Washington, DC area. His book, "Savage Breast" was the talk of local pagans lately. It is about his personal journey of new discoveries regarding the Goddess and the relationship between him, men in general and their relationship to the Goddess.

You can see a link to Tim Ward's site here:
http://timwardsbooks.com/

The workshop was marvelous, if he comes to your town, I recommend going. You can order the book from his site. The workshop attendees felt very open about discussing their relationships with the Goddess, even sharing some of their dark shadow sides in their experiences with Her.

While we discussed the Goddess Athena, justice, war, etc., while we were talking about equality in the workplace, we got on the subject of rape, sexual assault and discrimination as Athena is really the Goddess of the stronger and more career oriented female paradigm. I mentioned the females in the US Military being subject to all types of sexual harassment and discrimination, including high instances of rape. I made mention that rape is not something that normally happens in the Muslim culture and I was wrong and probably needed to reword that or express myself a little differently. What I should have said was that in the Iraqi war theatre, rape and sexual abuse is normally not inflicted on Military women by the enemy but by their male counterparts in the US Military. I got home and did a little research and the following is what I came up with:

Here are some links that I found regarding the NUMBERS of women raped and/or sexually assaulted in the US military by other male military counterparts. The viciousness of the attacks is horrifying and often causes American Military Women victims serious conditions, such as PTSD and many other emotional and mental disorders and these can cause the end result of suicide for many.

I did not find ONE LINK in my 20 minute search about American Military Women being raped by Iraqi soldiers and I did not research other war theatres (fronts). I am not saying that this does not or has not happened. But I can only conclude that this instance is very rare and that the US Military's systemic pattern of sexual abuse, assault and rape is much more common. Some of the links below are reports on the US Military Men raping Iraqi women. This is thought to be common in Iraq, but not as widely reported as rape by Iraqi males on Iraqi women. These same situations existed in Viet Nam.

The other issue is this, many American military women do not report when they are raped.
And American military women are rarely prisoners of war.
(There ARE reports of Iraqi men raping Iraqi women.)

Also, another number that goes unreported is the number of American civilian women who are working for the government contractors (otherwise known as mercenaries) in Iraq. This number is high and there are many cases currently in litigation.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=contractors+in+iraq+and+rape&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=

And this is the point that is the most important: it is very clear that there is some kind of void in the hearts, minds and emotions of men when faced with the horrors of war. They must be filled with anger and rage at what they are seeing and what they are expected to do. Rape has nothing to do with sex and is always an act of violence. For men to rape their female counterparts on or near the war front whether they are civilian or military is the ultimate and most serious act of betrayal.

***NOTE: Are these horrible things inflicted on women in the military by their male comrades in arms due to the men's detachment and disassociation from the loving nature and even the knowledge of the Goddess?

I encourage all of you to read and research the numbers and more info at the links below...
Let's increase awareness about this issue.
(Some of these articles were written in 2003 and 2004, the numbers quoted are much different now)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15005484
http://www.democracynow.org/2007/3/8/the_private_war_of_women_soldiers
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080801_sexual_assault_in_the_military_a_dod_cover_up/
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0319/p99s01-duts.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/19/national/main1913849.shtml
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/31/military.sexabuse/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/06/AR2005050601355.html
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=1273
http://www.global-sisterhood-network.org/content/view/1664/59/
http://staringatemptypages.blogspot.com/2008/12/women-military-academies-and-sexual.html
http://www.sapr.mil/
http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_item&itemid=478
http://bartoy.blogspot.com/2008/02/uncle-sam-wants-to-rape-your-daugthers.html
http://www.mediamouse.org/news/2007/03/iraqi-and-us-wo.php
http://politicsnpoetry.wordpress.com/2007/02/27/us-trained-iraqi-police-rape-women/

The mainstream media has done their best to sweep this issue under the rug as the media is controlled by the government and "owned" by the corporations. But these women flood the Women's Centers of the VA hospitals around the country so this is a much larger issue than people realize.

As a female veteran myself, I would not want to be a female in today's military, it is far too dangerous.

Another thing to add that I did not have a chance to state at the workshop, the standards for those recruited into the military have been lowered substantially. Only the "cream of the crop" used to be able to get in at all...so who knows who is being recruited now? Seems like the most violent types of people are what the military really wants on a war front...crimes and prior records are expunged before military induction...

Please think twice before encouraging young people, both male and female to join the military. They really do have other options. See and be sure to forward the following sites to the young people that you know for more information:

http://www.objector.org/before-you-enlist.html
http://www.militaryfreezone.org

the Tarotlaydee )0(
http://www.myspace.com/tarotlaydeestearoom
http://tarotlaydee.blogspot.com

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For special Imbolc and Valentine Gifts be sure to check out a local business:
http://www.sacredsuds.com
If you do not see the banner here go to the following link to view and print for a special DIANA'S BOW DISCOUNT COUPON especially for our readers:
http://s88.photobucket.com/albums/k187/tarotlaydee/?action=view&current=SacredSudscouponbanner539x157px.jpg


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The Diana's Bow Newsletter, copyright Anita Stewart aka the Tarotlaydee )0(, 2008, 2009
Use and reproduction for educational and informational purposes only.
The newsletter must be kept whole with links intact and proper credit given to all contributors.