September 2008 - Monthly Newsletter

A Note From Gentle Rains

Welcome to the 2nd edition of Magickal Gatherings Monthly Newsletter!

Just a few updates on the site. First, I just wish to take a moment to welcome all our new members to our community.

This month Magickal Gatherings officially reached over the 300 member milestone! That is a great accomplishment and compliment for our 2 month old community!

~~ As you can see, we finally got the updates and releases that we have been missing. The new chat room is one of those updates along with some hidden ones that are for me to play with (smile) and as soon as I master them I will then be able to add them to the site (i.e. drop down tab menus).

~~ New Group! Everything Samhain! - Yes folks we thought it would be fun to start a group on what an awful lot of us consider to be their favorite holiday. Topics will range from lore to recipes and other fun and fascinating topics. So come join us!

~~ Upcoming feature release Tuesday, Sep. 16 — 6 p.m. Pacific Time - There should be no downtime during this release. This release will include…..New Message Center & Friend Request Interface: The Network Inbox and Friend Requests are moving out of the Ningbar…..Simplified Main & Profile Pages: Changes include more space between columns, standardized text size across modules, and the introduction of a blog tab…..A New iPhone Interface: A supported mobile version of your network, accessible at the domain http://yourdomain.ning.com/m/

~~ We’re always striving to make sure all our members have a safe environment to come to. We have added a few additions to our Code of Conduct, such as profiles, creating groups, protecting your own privacy, personal issues, posting/comments, and opinions. Please read the new sections to the Code of Conduct at the site.

~~ Guidelines have been posted regarding creating a new group, you can read them under the Notes tab at the top of every page. All groups will now be approved before allowing members to join. Please do not allow this to stop anyone from creating a group, we want you to create them, this is just another way we are protecting our members.

~~ Photos and Videos - Please keep your photo uploading to 15 photos per day, per member and check to see that you are not duplicating any. We are asking every member to please use embedded videos (such as google, youtube, etc) and not upload from your computer. We have quite a bit of bandwich available to us and would like to keep it on the low side so the site doesn’t start to lag.

~~ Where Are Your Wares is a business directory for members to advertise their products and services. If you wish to advertise your wares in the Magickal Gatherings Business Directory, please contact either Gentle Rains or Christine with a brief description of your wares along with a link to your website. Categories are as follows with more to come as the directory builds....Pagan Freebies - Handmade Pagan Products - Classes / Courses Pagan Services - Home Based Businesses…Please remember this is for member products and services only.

~~ We would love to bring you more new items and go premium with ning but the creators are flat broke. You can help us by chipping in whatever you can, if you can. Please don't worry if you can't, believe me we do understand. To help out, at the bottom of the page you will find the Chip-In widget, just click on that and away you go.

~~ We are growing on Myspace! Come and add yourself as friend if you haven‘t already, we would love to see you there!

We have created a short survey for the site asking your opinions on a few subjects. It will be up on the site until September 30th and would love for everyone to join in.

You can click on the link below and it will be posted on the main page as well.

Click here to take our Online Survey

Each month the administration will award one member the title of Member of the Month. This award is based on participation, contributions, and helpfulness to the site and members.

Please remember to stop by the page of September's Members of the Month and congratulate them if you haven't done so already.

The Birthday Club - A club for everyone to list their birthday. We would love to wish you a "Happy Birthday". There is no need to post your year of birth. If you haven’t already joined the group, please stop by and join up.

September Birthdays that are listed in the group, please be sure to stop by and wish them a very Happy Birthday…..

Anne-Marie - 16th

A Note From Christine

September Full Moon Esbat

Background

Summer is over, yet many afternoons are still warm. And while the nights become chilly, winter's threat is not yet real. Our ancestors would be busy with the harvest, but for better or worse, we are removed from it. Most of us do not have to engage in the heavy labor of harvest, but the trade-off is that most of us no longer live close to the land. We should consider the time and conveniences of our modern lives a gift. This time we share together and our time in ritual are also gifts. Each of us has something to offer, and so tonight we will offer our gifts.

September Full Moon Ritual

Moon of the Harvest

Setup:

Items needed for this ritual include: Six candles for the altar; A bowl of acorns; Vines, real or artificial, to decorate the altar (optional); Tape or CD to play during the core part of the ritual. You may want to select something with which people can sing or drum (optional); Drum or other percussion instrument (optional).

The Ritual:

As you walk the perimeter of your circle, say:
Harvest moon, gather in,
I draw abundance to me.
Family, friends, those in need,
I share it all with thee.
Sacred is this space decreed in this harvest time.

Walk to the edge of the circle in the respective direction as you call each. After speaking, light a candle on the altar. Stand in front of the altar to evoke the Goddess and God.

I call to the North, to Earth, and invite you to my circle with your gifts of endurance, everyday existence and foundation. Be with me as the roots that connect me to sacred places. Spirits of Earth be with me this night.

I call to the East, to Air and invite you to my circle with your gifts of awareness, communication and inspiration. Be with me as the soft voice of nature. Spirits of Air be with me this night.

I call to the South, to Fire and invite you to my circle with your gifts of strength, sensation and courage. Be with me as the catalyst for transformation. Spirits of Fire be with me this night.

I call to the West, to Water and invite you to my circle with your gifts of emotion, intuition and receptivity. Be with me as the guide for my dreams and self-discovery. Spirits of Water be with me this night.

I call to the Lord, God of All, and invite you to my circle with your gifts of everlasting vitality and the spark of life that brings the world into being. Lord of All, be with me this night.

I call to the Lady, Goddess of All and invite you to my circle with your gifts of the powers of earth and the mystery of sister Luna. Lady of All, be with me this night.

Nature also has many gifts to offer and tonight we combine these with ours. The acorn is a tiny thing that holds great promise for the future. From something so small comes something great. It offers strength and endurance. Tonight these acorns will be symbolic of the gifts we offer the world.

Cup the acorns between your palms. Let your thoughts and energy flow into them as you think of what you wish for others. You may wish someone the gift of good health, you may offer the gift of your friendship, or you may wish that a person receive the strength to deal with a challenge in his or her life.

Walk around your altar three times, and then one by one place an acorn on it. As you place each one, say aloud to whom you are offering a gift and what that gift is. When you are finished, and to give power to the intention of your gifts, raise energy with the vine dance.

If you are using recorded music, begin it now, and then begin your dance. Your left leg advances your step. Your right leg will move first, behind then in front of the left to simulate the winding growth of a vine. To begin, place your right foot behind the left, then step sideways with your left foot. Cross your right foot in front of the left, and then take another step with your left foot. Keep alternating the movement of your right foot behind, then in front of your left as you step with your left. Yes, you may fall down, lol.

After the energy has reached its peak and you have released it, bring your dancing to an end. Stop the tape or CD. Take a few minutes to ground your energy.

Walk to the edge of the circle in the respective direction as you dismiss each. After speaking, extinguish a candle on the altar. Stand in front of the altar when addressing the Goddess and God.

Lady, Goddess of All, thank you for the gifts you bestow on me and for joining my circle this night. I ask for your blessing as you depart, and bid you farewell.

Lord, God of All, thank you for the gifts you bestow on me and for joining my circle this night. I ask for your blessing as you depart, and bid you farewell.

Spirits of West, of Water, thank you for the gift of dreams and self-discovery. I ask for your blessing as you depart, and bid you farewell.

Spirits of South, of Fire, thank you for the gift of transformation. I ask for your blessing as you depart, and bid you farewell.

Spirits of East, of Air, thank you for the gift of nature's voice. I ask for your blessing as you depart, and bid you farewell.

Spirits of North, of Earth, thank you for the gift of connection with sacred places. I ask for your blessing as you depart, and bid you farewell.

Standing in front of your altar, say:

In sacred circle's fading light,
Through the stillness of this night.
Intended gifts, fly from me,
To those I named, so mote it be.
In faith and unity, blessed be.


A Note From Joanie

Hi, I'm Joanie, one of the group administrators here. Since healing work is a passion of mine, and we have so many healers of various modalities on Magickal Gatherings, this month I would like to highlight all of our healing groups.

Our Healing Circle - The Beginning is our first and original healing group here. It's a group for everyone who has ever had an interest in healing work of any kind. Whether you're just curious, or an experienced master. You'll find lots of information here on many different types of healing methods such as Chakra Healing, Crystal Therapy, Reiki and much, much more.

The Healers Corner - A group for those who are already doing healing work. A place for healers to meet and talk about their practices, gain information on new modalities and generally put their own healing first for a while. We have many wonderful healers on board and have just started doing a weekly healing share with each other.

The Reiki Path - Reiki is probably one of the most recognized forms of energy healing, but did you know that there are many different types of Reiki? This group is all about Reiki and it's various forms. If you are interested in learning or already practicing it, you're sure to find something interesting here. You can also arrange to do an attunement exchange for other types of Reiki with those on the group.

The Wellness Co-op - Created to put together those in need of healing and those who can help. Anyone can post a general healing request here, or you can look at the list of healing helpers and ask for individual help from those listed. Additionally, you can arrange to do any type of healing exchange with each other. This is pretty much a self help group in that members can post and interact with each other to arrange exchanges.

Brighid's Well - Feeling blue? Need advice? Looking for someone to listen to you? Brighid's Healing well offers her waters to sooth you and your troubled soul. Come sit by the well and sip the water.

I hope you will check out our healing groups and if you're so inclined, join one that fits you best. As with all of our groups here, we would love to get more member participation. Feel free to ask questions or post new information on any of our groups!


A Note From Skye


How to Heal Yourself Energetically

I have been working with energy healing for a long time. I am always learning new things, and it never fails to amaze me. This is a gift to humanity from Spirit, an ability we were born with. We give up our power to people who tell us what is going on inside our bodies as if we have no control over it, but we do! I know "energy medicine" is going to be normal for us in the future. When we look back at this time in our linear history, our current medicinal practices will seem intrusive and barbaric.

We are made up of vibrating energy. Your physical manifestation began with a blueprint in a higher frequency plane. That is the way illnesses begin, too. Even genetic illnesses have an energetic pattern that can be changed. The trick is to become aware of how to do this. The first thing to realize is that you have all the power within you to do this. When I do a healing on someone, I cannot change anything no matter what I do unless he/she is willing to let his/her own divine healing take place. If I am trying to heal someone's arm or leg, for example, the energy will not move until the person relaxes and lets go. When he/she does let go, something takes over. It is based on what I call the body's natural organizational principle. The energy flows, and I see the person do something like laugh, or offer her hands in prayer to me, or walk away in a beautiful scene that is special to that person. I know then that the person accepted the healing and that it is finished. I have no control over that flowing process, or healing. I just watch it happen. The person does not have any conscious control over this flowing process either, but he/she feels the difference, and knows something just happened. My job is to stimulate that process. What this means is that you have a divine blueprint for health. If you have some kind of illness, it is because you have a block in your awareness of something, and need to manifest it in the physical in order to become aware of it. Think of the word "disease". It suggests that we are out of ease with ourselves. When you become aware of the block, the disease goes away. This is another way of defining the process of healing.

Many people never become aware of what it is they are healing, but the body goes through a process of "eating the energy" by getting sick, acting out whatever it is the person needs to experience, and then if the person "gets the message", even if subconsciously, the body is free to heal. It is a way of doing energy housework in the body. If we do not release the tension through our breath, our conscious awareness, or other ways of releasing, we accumulate garbage. The body finally takes over and gives the person a warning...the warning could be a headache, sore knee, or an aching back. If nothing happens, the body will manifest it more completely depending on what the issue is. The way illness will manifest often is associated with the functioning of chakras and the spiritual symbolism behind body parts. For example, indigestion or stomach cramps may be related to tension about solving some problem for which there seems to be no solution (3rd chakra is problem solving and action). A problem may be symbolic such as stiff legs for someone who is afraid to move forward in life. Louise Hay has written a book called Heal Your Body which tells many possible interpretations of what is behind various illnesses, but she says that they are only suggestions, which is true. Each person's dreams may have common symbols with other dreamers, but each person is unique in many ways, also.

How do you find out what is behind an illness? You ask Spirit. This is why I think it is so good for people to develop their psychic skills, because you can pinpoint what more exactly is going on and why. Instead of going to a reference book of symptoms and cures that generalizes and assumes everyone fits the same blueprint, you are going to the Source and unraveling the energy that led to that particular manifestation of "disease".

How do you do this for yourself? Since we are not always able to be objective about our own issues, we often turn to someone else for help. When we are not objective, we are "inside the block", or stuck. One way you can get outside the block or get unstuck enough to see your issue and become aware, is to laugh at it. Humor is the most underrated quality of human expression. Many indigenous people have the Lakota equivalent of a Heyoka, sacred clown or divine fool. This person does crazy things that are outside what is expected of a person, that makes no sense. He/she gives the others permission to let go of whatever they are stuck with without becoming fools themselves. They are often painted black and white because they unify opposites. In our world of polarities, we have good or bad, right or wrong, etc. It is easy to get stuck if that is all we see! If we allow ourselves to let go of expectations and see that everything is good AND bad, or NOT good OR bad, we see that it just IS, and we cannot hold onto stuck-ness anymore. In other words, stuck-ness is judgment about something. Judgment is resistance. When you are resisting, you are holding yourself tight, refusing to give in, being stubborn. If you laugh, you cannot resist, or judge. When you laugh, feel how the energy flows through you and fills your being. You breathe deeply and do not resist anything! Some of you may be saying "but, but, what if....". Just imagine that truly our life here is a divine joke and everyone is laughing and standing in the light. No one is lost, no one is hurt, no one is forgotten, no one is evil or bad. When you begin to see life this way, you begin to see into the Higher Realms.

OK, you are laughing. What next? You can get into a quiet, relaxed state and close your eyes. Mentally scan your body and see it as energy. You do not need to know about the chakras or anything in order to do this. For any energy that appears stuck, dense, opaque or standing out, imagine it dissolving and flowing away. I often do this meditation in a sea salt bath and imagine the bath water dissolving all the stuck-ness from me. Then ask your Spirit to bring you new energy that is appropriate for you at the time and imagine it filling your body and aura with a beautiful light. The light can be gold or any other color that feels uplifting, flowing and healing to you. Remember to fill up with some good energy any time you release so that you don't pull back the heavy energy again.

Just the act of turning within and asking for your spiritual connection once a week begins an alchemical process of spiritual growth and healing on all levels. The time to start is now!

We can't keep an eye on everything that goes on within the network, so if you have any problems or if you feel you were spammed by a member, please contact us at:

magickalgatherings@gmail.com

and we will get back to you as soon as we can. We want everyone to feel safe and at home with us here at Magickal Gatherings!

Until next month....

Gentle Rains & Christine (co-creators)
Joanie & Skye (group administrators)