Newsletter for June, 1997 ce
Newsletter for June, 1997 ce
June is such a lovely month. Gardens are blooming with the promise of a bountiful harvest (yes, even gypsy's garden is blooming. Someone else is tending it for her...) And despite the heat of early summer, creative juices are flowing. That's why we have yet another newsletter format. (We can find an excuse for anything. Just ask us!) Actually, what happened was we got Corel installed, but not PageMaker, so we're doing it in Corel. But don't tell, okay? You don't want to spoil our fun.
The Pagan Rainbow Network is extending an invitation to all interested to attend several upcoming events. Anyone interested in marching with the Colorado contingent of Queer Pagans during the Pridefest parade is welcome to join us.
June 15 Annual visit to the Denver Botanic Gardens. (with a potluck picnic in the park before) June 26 Gay Day at Elitch's. (we may have several extra discount tickets for everyone) June 29 PRIDEFEST PARADE and FESTIVAL. (Civic Center Park and all along central Colfax Ave.)
Many thanks to Kelvin and MoonWolf of Mothertree coven for a lovely OFM complete with Maypole. Despite the late start, a lot of people stuck around for the festivities and had a rollicking good time. There was a line later to jump the fire (okay, cauldron with candle) and the party atmosphere was appropriate to the season.
The June Open Full Moon will be held on Friday, June 13th beginning at 7:30 PM, at the First Unitarian Church, 1400 Lafayette, in Denver.
June is a special month for many of us. Not just because of the Summer Solstice, but for an important event that determined how some of us can live. It is the anniversary of the Stonewall riots, and the beginning of the Gay Liberation movement. For the first time ever, Queer people declared that they had the same rights as everyone else, and they were listened to. This one action proved to be a milestone, not just for Queer people, but for all oppressed peoples, including us Pagans. It showed the mainstream population that people were just that; not black people, not Indian people, not Queer people, just people.
We have a special celebration every year towards the end of June with a festival and parade. This is a celebration not just of a specific group, but for everyone who has felt the sting of oppression, be it for their religious beliefs, their skin color or their nationality. Everyone who declares that they are free and proclaims that all people are free, is welcome to join in the festivities.
The Pagan Rainbow Network will officiate at this month's Open Full Moon ritual. The PRN is a Nature-based Spiritual Discussion Forum and Social Organization for the Queer Pagan community (and supporters). In essence, the PRN provides an opportunity for Queer Pagans to discuss their various traditions and practices, to learn from one another, to socialize and to experience the unique perspective Queer people have in the spiritual realm. There are no membership requirements to join, and no particular practice or tradition is considered greater or better than any other.
We associate because we can learn from one another, and teach. We have a place to be ourselves, and to discuss topics of interest in a safe, supportive environment. And we have fun! Besides discussions and such, we have parties, potlucks, movie viewings and camping trips. We attend several Pagan festivals, visit the Botanic Gardens, play at Elitch's, and do whatever we think would be enjoyable. We extend this invitation for you to attend and experience for yourself what the Pagan Rainbow Network has to offer.
The June OFM will be presented as ritual theater. We will cast and call from the Center, then perform an Invocation followed by a guided meditation. It's our hope that every participant will come away with a better understanding of themselves, and how we all are part of divinity.
This is June, and the Summer Solstice is approaching rapidly. This is the longest continuous period of daylight of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and is considered by many Wiccans and other Pagans to be a day of great power. In some of our traditions, it is considered sacred to the God, and in some it is considered a day of great significance for fertility both in the fields, and in the human body and mind.
In the Scandinavian countries, the Summer Solstice is a major holiday. Whereas in the Celtic and British lands, the Maypole is danced on Beltane, or Mayday, in Scandinavia it is danced on the Summer Solstice. On this day, in many parts of the northern lands, the sun simply does not set. (Of course, very near the North Pole, the sun is evident at all times for months during the late spring and summer, but such is not the case in most of the major Scandinavian cities. In Copenhagen, for instance, there is a brief period of darkness even on Solstice day itself.)
As a teenager, I had the good fortune to spend a Summer Solstice in Scandinavia. Two days after Solstice, my parents and I walked the streets of Oslo, observing the aftermath of some serious partying. These people, in ostensibly Christian nations, take their Summer Solstice quite seriously and enjoy it to the fullest. Summer in Colorado is one of our most variable seasons. (Come to think of it, every season in Colorado is one of our most variable seasons.) We can almost always count on a long stretch of extreme heat, punctuated by raging thunderstorms. At such times, while it is pleasant to cook outdoors, it is sometimes impossible to do so. With this in mind, I turned to the Scandinavians for seasonal recipes. After all, they celebrate it so well, they certainly must have some wonderful foods appropriate for the summer.
And so they do. Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland are serious about their food. (They are equally serious about their drink. This may have something to do with the long winters that invariably follow the long days of summer. But that is neither here nor there.) Their foods include luscious fruits, crisp vegetables, hearty grains, a nearly awesome array of fish, beautiful meats, and gorgeous dairy products.
And, of course, there is the ubiquitous Smorrebrod. The name means, literally, buttered bread. To the Danes, it refers to open-faced sandwiches, topped with a variety of ingredients. The sandwiches are eaten with knife and fork, and sometimes are paired with soup. Smorrebrod is ideal for summertime indoor cooking. It's light, it's cool, it doesn't involve being hit by lightning ... what more could you ask for?
The following suggestions are just a sampling of what the Danes might include for smorrebrod.
SMORREBROD
Trim crusts from breads, slice, and spread one side of each slice with butter.
CUCUMBER-SARDINE SMORREBROD
Top slices of pumpernickel with:
HAM & EGG SMORREBROD
Top rye slices with
CHEESE-STRAWBERRY SMORREBROD
This one uses the French bread. Top with
HAVARTI-WALNUT SMORREBROD
Use any of the breads. Top each slice with
Okay, now you're on your own. I'm envisioning smorrebrod made
with salsa and roast pork, or corn and chicken. (A hint, put the
crumbly ingredients under the full-sized ones. I learned this
the hard way. The butter keeps them on the bread. Kind of like
peas with honey on a knife, if you know what I mean.)
*Note: October 10 is Yom Kippur. We will need to move that
ritual, but have not determined the new date yet.
Please be aware that we will no longer have access to the nursery. Due to a
lack of adult volunteers, we have removed the child care area from our lease.
I'm unemployed now. This is not a bad thing by any stretch
of the imagination.
I had lost all joy in my work quite a while ago. Then in
August, I got a manager (hired from a competitor) who was very
difficult for me to work with. I would describe him as a
feminist's nightmare. He touched inappropriately, made sexist
comments, including calling an older member of our team "the
old broad" (and occasionally "the old bitch"), and tended to be
brash and abrasive. I felt abused, and told him so in front of
his boss. This stopped him from calling the other member of the
team "the old broad," but the rest of his behavior did not
change. He had an explosive temper and wielded it like a
weapon. On Monday morning, January 20th, I had had enough, and
went to my Human Resources person for help. She told me she was
busy until after 1 p.m. and I agreed to meet with her then. At
noon, I met with my psychiatrist, and he gave me two choices:
Take medical leave right now, or stay at work and he would have
to put me in the hospital before two more months had elapsed.
Doug, my spouse, had come to the appointment with me, and he
agreed with the doctor. Vehemently. So I agreed. I contacted my
team lead and my human resources rep, and went home.
The doctor's official diagnosis was "Major Depression with a
co-morbidity of anxiety." In plain English, I was extremely
depressed, to the point of my rapidly losing my ability to
function, and had panic attacks. This particular diagnosis also
means that I was very angry and irritable, which put my family,
coven, and friends through a great deal of strain.
That evening, I had a nervous breakdown. "Nervous Breakdown"
isn't an official diagnosis, but it's a great description. The
evening of the 20th, I collapsed into tears and cried until I
was exhausted, then fell asleep and slept for 12 hours. I spent
the next two weeks in pajamas and slippers, and only left the
house for appointments. I spent the first three months of my
medical leave in the basement of my house, going out only when
it was absolutely necessary, and then only with company. Thanks
to the caring and support of my family, coven, and close
friends, (and their insistence that I start getting out of the
house once in a while), I gradually began to recover. When I had
recovered enough to go back to work, Doug and I discussed it,
and I quit. I will be investigating a career change. We're
fortunate that we can afford my time off and retraining for
another career.
Why am I pouring all this out on the pages of the newsletter? I
have two reasons.
First, if during the first half of 1997, I said something to
anyone that upset them, I apologize. My brain wasn't functioning
at all for the first three months, and I only came completely
"on-line," so to speak, in mid-May, after I resigned. If I
promised something or agreed to something that I haven't
followed through on, please get in touch with me. The odds are
good I don't remember the statement, but I'll do my best to
make good on whatever I promised.
Second, I see the signs of a nervous breakdown in the Denver
pagan community.
Before I blew my cork, I was angry, irritable, easily
offended, and burnt out. I see the same signs in many members
of this community, and in the community itself as well. Some
people are talking at cross-purposes to each other instead of
communicating, some people are taking offense where none was
meant, and some people are irritable and difficult to get
along with. (Disclaimer: I am not thinking of anyone specific
for any of these statements. If pressed, I can probably come up
with half a dozen examples for each. Please don't press me; I'm
more interested in pointing out the problems in the community
than placing blame or gossiping about any one individual. If
anyone feels like I am talking specifically about them, I
respectfully request that they examine their behavior to
determine why they feel that way.) The local pagan community is
important - even vital - to me. I don't want to see some part
or the whole of the community I love rip itself apart due to
fatigue and stress. I most definitely don't want to see a
"Witch War."
So, what can we do? I think that's a topic worth
brainstorming. Let's start by trying to be gentle with each
other. A lot of people are just plain worn out. We can make use
of some of the old truisms: Think before you speak; don't say
anything you'll regret later. If there is a high level of
conflict between two (or more) covens or people, try to find a
neutral, discreet person to help resolve it. Remember to care,
and that our community and religion are in the turbulent
adolescent growth phase, and may require gentler care than we
are used to providing. If you have ideas that you would like to
offer, please let me know. I'd be happy to publish a follow up
article with all the ideas I receive - none will be edited or
deleted, and I will not credit ideas to individuals so the
ideas may be considered solely on their merit.
My thanks to Stormbringer, gypsy, Doug, and the many other
people whose comments and observations have contributed to this
column.
"My effort should never be to undermine the faith of
others, but to make them better followers of their own faith.
Religions are different roads converging to the same point.
What does it matter that we take different roads as long as we
reach the same goal. In reality there are as many different
religions as there are individuals." -- Mahatmas Gandhi
All of my herb teachers stressed the importance of
observation...to look around me and see what was growing in my
yard, in my neighborhood, in the geographic area in which I
lived. What's growing, how much and how easily available is
often a good clue to a useful plant. In the spring violets,
dandelions, shepherds purse, plantain, and a host more "weeds"
grow in abundance, as if to say, "Use me! I'm fresh and green
and just what you need after a long, dark winter!" One of the
most conspicuous plants right now is Yellow Dock. It's that
tall, weedy plant with long, curled leaves and is just now
putting out big bursts of seed (in the fall the seed heads turn
a rusty brown and the plant resembles tobacco). You see them
everywhere along the roadway, in empty lots, on the edges of
schoolyards, generally in places that seem very inhospitable.
It's kind of like the plant is saying "You don't want me in
your garden, but you really need me, so I'll grow anyway, and
I'll always be nearby when you want me".
Yellow Dock is a wonderful liver tonic; it supports the
growth and function of liver cells thus aiding the organ in
its task of cleansing the blood of toxins. Yellow Dock is used
extensively in the treatment of chronic skin conditions such as
psoriasis. The herb has a mild stimulating effect on the bowels
and thus is good for constipation. It also promotes the flow of
bile and is valuable in the treatment and recovery phase of
hepatitis and jaundice.
It is easy and gratifying to make your own Yellow Dock
preparations. Dig the root in late summer and autumn, between
August and October (although as a wise teacher once told me,
the best time to collect and herb is often when you and the
herb are in the same place at the same time!). The roots are
VERY long and very tough...be prepared with a shovel as they
tend to grow in hard, dry places. The plants have dark roots,
but the inside should be a strong yellow or orange, the darker
the yellow, the stronger the root. To tincture the roots, rinse
them off and chop finely. Place in a jar (I find baby food jars
or any 4 or 8 oz glass jars work fine) and pack lightly. Fill
the jar with vodka (at least 80 proof) and get all the air
bubbles out. The entire root should be covered with liquid to
the top of the rim. Cover and set aside in a dark place for six
weeks, shaking the jar occasionally. After six weeks strain the
liquid through muslin into another glass container and squeeze
the remaining plant material to get every last drop of goodness
from it! To dry the roots, cut them lengthwise and dry them on
newspaper in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. Store
them in airtight glass jars after drying.
The dried roots can later be ground for tea, made into an
ointment for skin ulcers, sores or itching, or made into an
infusion and used to soothe hemorrhoids. To make a tea
(decoction) put 1-2 teaspoonfuls of the root in a cup of water,
bring to a boil, and simmer gently for 10-15 minutes. Drink 3
times a day. For the tincture, use 1-4 mls. three times a day.
Because Yellow Dock is a tonic, it needs to be taken on a
regular basis over a long period of time to see results.
Generally after six weeks one should see an improvement in skin
and gall bladder conditions.
Denying the place of gays in Wicca is denying the history of
the Craft in America. Beginning with Starhawk and continuing
all the way to the present, the Craft is represented both in
print and in person by gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and those
heterosexuals who are not afraid of them. It is impossible, in
such a short space, to list all of the important gay
contributors to the formation of American Wicca. Keep in mind
that just because you reject Z Budapest and have grown past
Starhawk, it doesn't mean there is no gay influence on your own
practice.
(Just as a side note to the gays, lesbians, bisexuals and
transgendered folk who might be reading this: We hate to break
it to you, but there are straights in the history of American
Craft. The influence works both ways. Just because someone
wants to join physically with a member of the opposite sex does
not make that person wrong or unable to be Wiccan. Just because
you never liked the Farrars and have grown past Buckland, it
doesn't mean there is no straight influence on your own
practice.)
So please, join us for the June Open Full Moon, even if you
have never before been comfortable with gay-influenced rituals.
The important thing is not with whom the officiants share their
beds. The important thing is that we all share a love of the
Earth, of the gods, and of each other, no matter what form that
love may take.
In many Prechristian cultures, transgendered persons have
held positions of honor. They were thought to be more
spiritually advanced because they were more in touch with both
their male and female energies. But while transgendered people
were often healers, some of them were fierce warriors and
revolutionaries.
Joan of Arc was executed by the Catholic church for refusing
to stop wearing men's clothing. She had lead an army against
the English invaders in 1429. During her trial, one of the
charges brought against her was associating with fairies (a
euphemism for being Pagan). In addition, Joan also admitted to
sleeping twice with Catherine de la Rochelle.
In Wales on May 13th, 1839. The Daughters of Rebecca
destroyed toll barriers that prevented farmers from taking
their goods to market. They did this for four years. The
"Daughters" were a group of cross-dressing men.
This tradition of transgendered people leading battles for
the rights of the oppressed continues with the 1969 Stonewall
riots. The riots are considered the beginning of the modern Gay
Liberation movement. The Stonewall Inn is a drag
(cross-dressers) bar in Greenwich Village. On June 29th, the
bar was raided by the police. Harassment by the police was
common (among other things the police would notify the
employers of the people arrested often causing them to lost
their jobs). Normally no one would resist the police, but this
night was different. Marsha P. Johnson, an African-American
drag queen, is said to have thrown the first bottle. The long
suppressed anger of the Queer community exploded, and the
resulting riots lasted four days and nights.
I believe the Stonewall riots have their roots in the Pagan
past. One of the factors contributing to the riots was the
death of Judy Garland the night before. Ms. Garland was an
actress and singer who was worshipped and often impersonated
by gay men. The pain they felt at the death of this Goddess
was "transformed into an empowering rage."
The book I used as a source for this article is
Transgendered Warriors by Leslie Feinberg, and I highly
recommend it.
Back to Hearthstone's main
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1997 OPEN FULL MOON DATES
June 13 October 10*
July 18 November 7
August 15 December 12
September 12
AN EDITORIAL
by Alia
WISE WOMAN WAYS
by Deb Hoffman
A note from Hearthstone regarding this month's ritual
It is our policy to present rituals from any of the varied
traditions. In the past we have noticed that rituals with
gay-related themes are the most poorly attended rituals in the
entire OFM calendar. There are a number of reasons why this
might be, including that these rituals tend to be during the
summer months when the ritual area is sometimes unpleasantly
hot, and when many people are on vacation and therefore out of
town. However, we know that this lack of attendance stems in
large part from the feelings of many in our community who either
do not understand or do fully disapprove gay involvement in
what to many seems to be a heterosexually oriented religion.
True, a common reliance on archetypes of both the goddess and
god would seem to imply that there is no place for same-sex
love in our religion. But please realize, not all love is of a
sexual nature. Just because a person feels a desire to love and
join physically with someone whose gender seems inappropriate
to you does not mean that that person is wrong or unable to
really be Wiccan. The gods, and humans, come in many forms. So,
too, does love.
QUEER CRAFT
by John