Sacred Space

For the last seven years, we Moon Mothers have gathered for our August full moon ceremony at the Maverick’s Beach labyrinth. Last year it was destroyed, all symmetrically placed rocks had been removed.  When I saw the devastation I was appalled and vowed to rebuild it.  With fire energy, I called upon the Moon Mothers for a labyrinth rebuilding work day.  They showed up in force and we rebuilt the sacred labyrinth on the Maverick’s Beach peninsula. This year it was destroyed again! What? Who? Why would anyone destroy a symmetrically beautiful, meditation labyrinth? How could anyone not see the sacredness of this labyrinth?  When I saw the destruction, I paused and remembered the words of my teacher, Amy Sullivan, “Why do you choose to swim up Stream?”  This time I was not compelled to rebuild. Perhaps the universe was telling me it’s time for a change of venue.  This year we gathered at a sacred hidden labyrinth created by Lars Howlett.

In keeping with Moon Mothers tradition, we began by calling in the energy of the seven direction with the sound of the conch.  The gifts from our summer babies set the tone of calmness.

 

Deliberately we walked the sacred labyrinth. Keeping rhythm with our drums, we tapped into Earth’s wisdom. It was as if the labyrinth had become the universal mind, placed upon Mother Earth. As we walked, she silently informed, soothed, and satiated our souls.

Ceremony is a practice inasmuch as medicine is a practice, both are healing.  One of the most powerful effects of full moon ceremony is the self discovery, not found in an ordinary scheduled day.  The ability to be the speaker and the witness at the same time is a common occurrence during circle speak.

To be truly heard by compassionate woman in a sacred space, ushers in a stong connection, both individually and collectively, to the divine feminine.

Until we meet again, walk bare foot, witness the sunrise, and smell the richness of soil.

Sincerely,  Tamara Trejo

Tamara Trejo

Mawu

Thick fog shrouded the setting sun and rising moon, bringing the dark of night soon after we cast out circle.  On this chilly night, we dedicated our ceremony to the one who goes by many names ( Gaia, Tara, Mother Earth, Mawu and may more).   In respect for our African ancestors, in this ritual, we called her Mawu. Through our heart, feet and back bodies, we connected to her subtle resonance.

When we rose from our story telling circle, intuitively half the women picked up a drum and the other half silently began to walk the labyrinth.  Without words, our drumming synchronized to the pulse of Mawu’s heart beat.

The labyrinth walkers connected to Mawu through their feet as they stepped to the tempo of the drums. Like a slow moving river,  the walkers flowed from the labyrinth and began to drum as the drummers flowed into the labyrinth.  The cadence of Mawu’s heart beat stayed steady through the exchange of walkers and rhythm keepers.

Upon returning to our circle, we laid on our backs in meditation to connect deeper with Mawu.  Extending our first red root chakra deep into Mawu, and tethering it to her beautiful crystals, we became one with Mother Earth herself.

On this breezy night our altar candles blew out again and again. Surrendering to nature we repositioned our intimate circle into a cozy dark cocoon for circle speak.  I could hear the presence of Mawu in the timber of their voices as they spoke of their connection to Mother Earth.  This ancient practice of embodying Mawu had subtly changed the energy of the women in our circle.  Our closing chant was simultaneously grounding and releasing.

Until we meet again, stay grounded with a light heart.

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped rebuild the labyrinth.

Sincerely,

Tamara Trejo

http://www.newworldgoddess.com

 

Super Moon

Tamara Trejo

On this balmy night of the Super moon, we gathered at the Maverick’s labyrinth to honor Mawu, the African Earth Goddess. In mindful meditation, we walked the Labyrinth to a steady drum beat lead by Dr.Ginger.

As each woman exited the labyrinth, she picked up a rhythm maker and joined in the twilight beat.  We drummed for peace, we drummed for healing, we drummed for Mother Earth, and we drummed for joy.  The rhythm quickened to a pace that beckoned our voices to spirit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like an ocean wave that crests in a spectacular high, then returns to the ocean from which it came, we returned to our circle and laid on our backs for some Earthing.

Resting in the energy we created, our heart beat slowed to the resonance of Mother Earth. The Super moon was shrouded in fog and twilight had turned to night.  The only sound was the fog horn and our heart beat.  Our connection was palpable.

Mawu, Gaia, Terra, Mother Earth; the Goddess of many names.

We connect

Your fiery core, our passion.

Your oceans, our emotions.

Your trees, our knowingness.

Your mountains, our strength.

Your rivers, our creative flow.

We are one.

Returning to a seated position in our candle lit circle, each woman spoke of her favorite season and place on earth.  Kim Acker was the last women to speak and she said, “right here, right now.”

Time to dance; Earth my body, water my blood, air my breath, and fire my spirit!

Releasing the circle we called down the moon.

Mawu Mother Earth

Sharon Guynn

As I walked down the dusty rocky bumpy trail to Maverick’s Beach, smelling the cool fresh air, seeing the beautiful trees sway in the wind and looking upon white bird feathers peeking out on the earth’s floor, I knew I was in a profound area of nature.  Slowly approaching a beautiful stone labyrinth overlooking Half Moon Bay, there were small ships bobbing in the water, I marveled at the sight of such beauty.  Wow! This was simply magnificent for my eyes to behold.  I was in awe.

We gathered around a beautifully decorated, candle lit altar to hear the herstory of Mawu.  It was very enriching to hear about this particular Goddess.

Goddess Mawu (prounounced Mah-woo) and sometimes alternatively spelled Mahu, is a West African Mother Earth Creator Goddess, associated with both the sun and moon. She is the Goddess of the night, of joy and of motherhood as well as the ruler of the world’s, wisdom and knowledge.  She is the one who brings the cool nights to the hot African world.  Mawu is also the Goddess of motherhood, since it was she that created the first humans out of clay, and she gives humans their souls.”

“Mawu’s  themes are creativity, Universal Law, passion, abundance, birth and inspiration.  Her symbols are clay and the moon.  Mawu inspires the universe’s abundance and every dreamers imagination.

Mawu makes the land fertile.  So get yourself a seedling today and bring it into the house to welcome Mawu and her creative powers.  Name the sprout after one of Mawu’s attributes that you want to cultivate.  Each time you water or tend the plant, repeat its name and accept Mawu’s germinating energy into your spirit.  “Mother Mawu, make me whole. Help me obtain my sacred goal’

We started our Full Moon ceremony with the traditional blowing the Conch and bringing our awareness to honor the Moon.

We honored and acknowledge the August Birthday women. In celebration of their birth we offered positive affirmations of love, strength, healing, empowerment, happiness, and joy.  We formed two single lines facing one another to begin our whispering voices tradition of guiding the eyes closed, Birthday women down the protected fence like lines of women, infusing them with our empowering prose of wisdom.  The whispering voices reminded me of the all of the Goddesses whispering sweet delights and affirmations into my being.  This was a powerful experience of keeping in touch with our sense hearing.

The Birthday Women gave back to the group with gifts of homemade peanut butter cookies with a large chocolate chip in the center, beautiful flowers of our choice and lovely heart-felt Kisses were thrown through the air for all to receive.  The childlike little girl came bursting out of me with laughter, which reached deep inside my soul.

Walking the beautiful stone labyrinth was a special treat of connecting to Mawu Mother Earth.  Each foot step brought my awareness to the energy radiating from the surface.  After walking the labyrinth I was open and aware of  Mawu, and felt the energy of Mother Earth running through my body.

We prepared ourselves in a lying position on the ground, our heads facing the altar to begin our Meditation session.  To a soothing beat of a drum that vibrated throughout our connected circle I felt my body relax deeply as I focused on connecting to Mawu, Mother Earth.

After the meditation, we shared the evenings experience by passing the talking stick, honoring the trees, personal connections, healings, rejuvenation, listening to the earth sounds, the foghorns, reflections of wisdom, and connections to Mawu, Mother Earth.

We closed our celebration by chanting the vibrational sound OM 3 times.

By Sharon Guynn

Here are some of the current offerings

by the courageous Moon Mothers.

 These women are well along on their path to self actualization.  

The offering by these women are of true enlightenment.

Dr. Lisa Chu

Inviting Joy, Cultivating Courage – A Practice Circle for Wholehearted Living and Learning

 Joy stands at the door.
She knocks.
You hold the key.
It is courage.
The tool is practice.
The doorway is the present moment.
It is always open.
You only have to walk through it.

Each present moment gives us the opportunity to invite joy into our lives. Everyday courage is the quality we practice each time we consciously choose to act in harmony with the present moment.

In these sessions, we will explore gateways to the present moment, and practice different aspects of everyday courage, through experiential exercises.

Sample activities: deep listening, musical collaboration, role playing, writing, speaking, movement, touch, breath. No prior experience is necessary (or possible!).

Sessions may involve featured guest presenters.

You may attend any session individually, OR the entire series.

Next class: The Courage To Speak The Truth: Authentic Self-Expression As Gateway To The Present Moment

Tuesday, September 3, 7pm to 9pm

Bamboo body+soul, 799 Main Street, Suite C, Half Moon Bay

 

A Generosity-Based Offering*
*This means the circle is offered with generosity and is supported by the generosity of all participants. Please consider what your heartfelt offering will be in support of this event. Everything offered wholeheartedly will be gratefully received.

RSVP: (650) 325-2194 or email info@themusicwithinus.com

Mary Baxter

Personal Evolutionary Formulas & Space Clearing Mists

http://marysclearings.com/gemstone-elixirs

Soul Clearing

 www.marysclearings.com

Amy Sullivan

Art&Inspiration

“Making art takes away from the Soul the debris of everyday life.”  Pablo Picasso

Are you ready to unleash your Creative Spirit, and experience Transformation in your Life and Career?

New class starting Wednesday, Sept. 4th 1 – 3pm

First Wednesdays of each month through May 2014

1500 Perez Dr.  (St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church) Pacifica, CA 94044

This class is a Safe Place to express what’s in your Heart and attend to the yearnings of your Soul.

It is a chance to play with Shape, Color, Images and Symbols and connect with The Source of Creativity itself.

No previous art experience necessary.

RSVP: Amy Sullivan, artist, therapist and healing guide

650-455-2145 (cell) or info@amysullivanmft.com

Suggested appreciation: $10 – $25.00

Dina Ayala

New Moon Ceremony Honoring Isis the Egyptian Goddess 

September 6th 6:30 PM 1003 Escalero Ave Pacifica

 Please Join us for Stories, Poems, & Ceremony

Please bring a Note Book and blanket, Dress Warm, Blanket (we will have a fire)

Donation request of $10-20

RSVP

Shelley Moore, Soul Purpose Reader 650-303-9250

Dina Ayala, CMT 650-557-0544

We will hold a Crone ceremony in October.  If you are ready to be crowned Crone in a sacred ceremony please contact me.  Tammy’s cell 650-303-5515 or email tamtrejo@pacbell.net.

Harvest full moon ceremony will be at the beach.  Details coming soon.

 

You’re invited Full Moon Ceremony

Hello Ladies

Please join our full moon circle at Maverick’s labyrinth Tuesday Aug. 20th 7:30pm.
Park in Maverick’s parking lot, walk south, you’ll see us at the labyrinth.
Please let me know if you will attend and if you need directions.  cell # 650-303-5515
Sincerely, Tammy

Teltane Full Moon

Teltane Full Moon

Amy Sullivan

By Amy Sullivan

On Wed. August 1^st, Moon Mothers gathered at the Labyrinth at Mavericks Beach.  The  Full Moon in Aquarius was shining a silver spotlight on the realm of humanity and social equality, interconnection and cooperation.  We could feel the glow coming through the soft blanket of fog as we donned our Goddess attire to walk the labyrinth in silence.

Our circle was as full as the moon with women who have found our supportive haven for delving into divine feminine energy each full moon.  We honored those with August birthdays in the middle of the circle and they returned blessings in the spirit of reciprocity.

We gathered to honor the African Goddess, Mawu, goddess of Creation, of the Earth and the Moon.  Her message goes like this:

I am the Creator of Life.  It is my nature to nurture and hold dear all life I create.  I am The Great Mother, who gives life and takes it away, and who holds you close in life and in death.  It is time for balance between my Daughters and Sons.  It is time for mutual love, respect, and honor to return to the world of humanity.  My Dear Ones, remember my gift of life and that you are one.  Treat each other with love, honor, and respect.  Cherish all of my children who share this world with you.

 Your life is Sacred.  YOU are Sacred.  And you are dearly loved.

 The circle sisters walked the Labyrinth again contemplating what kind of tree you would be, if you were a tree.  We then passed around the talking stick and tree-women as willows, redwoods, oaks, chestnuts, palms, madrones, apples, mimosas, cypress shared qualities such as strength, flexibility, giving, groundedness, connectedness and adaptability.

Giggles were contagious as we closed the circle with a human wave, refreshed and reinvigorated to continue the work of the goddess during these intense times of transformation.

Happy Teltane, or Lammas, which is observed around the beginning of August midway between the Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox. It signifies the withdrawal of the Mother Goddess into the earth in preparation for the falling seeds that will need her care if they are to germinate in winter.

Tammy passed out seeds for each one of us to plant and honor the Earth, and we left an offering of a clay disk in the center of the labyrinth as a simple marker of the healing energy generated by our sacred goddess circle.

By Amy Sullivan

Thank you Amy for leading us in a sacred closing ceremony and writing the above article.

Also, I thank all of you ladies who participated in the creation of the Divine Feminine Labyrinth walk portrait.

I’ll see you all on the Blue Moon August 31st.

Sincerely,

Tammy

www.coastsidephotography.com/book