Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Savage Breast

Happy Beltane, everyone!

One last reminder on the Women in Spirituality Gala Event at 7:00 p.m. on May 9 at Scarboro United Church, 134 Scarboro Avenue SW (just up the hill from 17 Ave. and 14 St.). EnChantress, a pagan chant group which includes a number of Evergreens and friends, will be performing on behalf of Wicca. The annual event includes performances and displays featuring the Divine Feminine as viewed in a number of religions.

May (actually, June 3) is your last chance to see “Egypt, Greece, and Rome: Art of the Ancient Mediterranean World”, at the Glenbow Museum. I was personally a little disappointed with the exhibit, which seemed a little spare, and focused more on Egypt than the Classical cultures, They did have an impressive statue of Sekhmet, though. Perhaps I was just anticipating more than they delivered. If I recall, the artifacts were all authentic, which is more than I can say for the reconstruction of the tomb of Tutankhamun which appeared here a few years ago.

Margarian and I will be attending Gaia Gathering, the third Canadian National Pagan Conference, in Winnipeg on the May long weekend. We’re scheduled to appear on a panel on Teaching the Craft, based in part on our Second Degree workshop. After the conference, Margarian is planning to go from there to Toronto for her annual summer trip. The only possible hitch is that she was called for jury duty here, but she’s been told that she may be exempt because of her plane ticket.

Guest of Honor at Gaia Gathering is author Tim Ward, so in preparation, I’ve recently read his Savage Breast: One Man’s Search for the Goddess. This is the fourth book in his series of spiritual journeys, this time covering a number of Goddess sites in Eastern Europe, Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus. The book can be read on a number of levels. 1) One man’s journey through goddess iconography to connect with his own internal feminine. 2) A reiteration of the theories of Marija Gimbutas, Robert Graves, Riane Eisler, and others of the flourishing of ancient Goddess-centred cultures prior to the rise of the Patriarchy. (Paganism’s own “Legend of the Fall”). 3) The story of Ward’s sometimes turbulent romance with his partner, Teresa (herself named after a goddess). 4) A pagan travelogue of the eastern Mediterranean. In part, the book provides answers to the question, “what do men want in a ‘Goddess religion’ anyway?” Sometimes frustratingly naïve, sometimes uncomfortably revealing, it’s definitely a book to make you think.

Birthdays this month: Gwyddion Pendderwen, Pagan bard (May 21), Morning Glory Zell, Church of All Worlds (May 27). Anyone local?

May Events:
Note these events are listed for information purposes only; no endorsement is necessarily implied. Dates and locations may be subject to change; see the source for details. If I’ve missed anyone and you’d like to add to this listing, please contact me.

May 1, 4:09 a.m.: Full (Flower) Moon.
May 1: EnChantress Rehearsal. Info: http://www.myspace.com/enchantresscalgary
May 1: COGCOA “Meet the God” Night.
May 3: Calgary Pagan Meet (Yahoo), hosted by Lugh. Info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Calgarypaganmeetup/
May 5-6: Calgary Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show at West Hillhurst Arena. Info: http://www.crlc.ca/
May 5, 7:30 p.m: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info: info at cogcoa dot ab dot ca
May 8: EnChantress Rehearsal
May 9, 7:00 sharp: Women In Spirituality Gala Event at Scarboro United Church, 134 Scarboro Avenue SW
May 13: Pagan Night Out. Info:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CalgaryPaganNightOut/
May 16, 1:27 p.m.: New Moon. Uath (Hawthorn) lunar month begins.
May 17, 7:00 p.m. Pagan Paths, at the Witchery. Info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/the_witchery/
May 18-21: Gaia Gathering, 3rd Annual Canadian National Pagan Conference, in Winnipeg. Info: http://www.gaiagathering.ca/
May 19, 3:00 p.m.: Blood Proud – for pagan women, sponsored by Pucchotha Tribes. Info: 293-8339
May 19, 6:00 p.m.: Einherjar Community Potluck (public Asatru celebration). Info: zara1204 at gmail dot com
May 19, 7:00 p.m.: Terra Firma – for pagan men, sponsored by Pucchotha Tribes. Info: 293-8339
May 22, 6:00 p.m.: Calgary Druid Meetup, hosted by Athelia. http://druid.meetup.com/93
May 22, 7:00 p.m.: Calgary Witches Meetup, hosted by yours truly, in north Calgary. Info: http://witches.meetup.com/1322/
May 26 or 27: Calgary Pagan Pride Day Open House #2, location TBA. Info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/calgarypaganprideday
May 31, 7:04 p.m.: Full (Milk) Moon. Blue Moon!

Bright blessings,
Hergest