The Priestess Is In

Lunacy’s Wild Peace

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I started writing about the Moon for a few reasons. The list grew as I was writing about it…

One. I’ve always loved the Moon. I love that she is calm and reflective. I love that she is beautiful. I love that she changes yet remains the same. I love that she calls to me.

Two. She rules our lives in ways we don’t often acknowledge… she particularly plays with the tides of women’s bodies. (I almost remember).

Three. She rules the Night. As a culture, we aren’t out in the night anymore. Bad things happen we’re told. Women get rapped, be afraid. And we do. More often we’re raped at home, so better we should get outside for a breath of fresh Air once in a while. Because the Dark is Beautiful and so is the moon. And we give up half our lives… a very important part if we don’t honor the Night. The everflowing balance of Dark and Light is what makes the world beautiful.

Four. Wild things happen in the light of the Moon. We’re no longer the allies of the Wild. We’re so mixed up about the Wild that we think we can take selfies with bears. And we can. We just die when we do, because, it’s a bear — those cute little things with the big paws and claws… But it’s only when the domestic and the wild, the prey and the preditor walk side by side, honoring the others’ existence that life is full and balanced.

Five. Magic happens by the light of the moon. We fall in love. We find ourselves and one another beautiful.

More? As I find ’em, I’ll list ’em…

But for now, Let’s gather in the moonlight and dance for Peace. Lunacy. Let it happen to us.

LunacyWolfMoonJan2

Lunacy: The 2015 Peace Year Begins

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I’ve been planning this year’s theme since this summer. It’s exciting because I love the Moon and I get to spend the year with my friend Lorraine.

So it’s disconcerting to have been sick (and to continue sick) right as we’re changing from la vida local to the Moon. I haven’t been able to lavish as much attention as I would like on this at the beginning. So, like the Moon, we’ll grow into it… we’ll wax and wane all year, what do you say?

I love the Moon because she silvers ever little vida local. Yes I know the Sun does as well, but maybe it’s the intimacy of the night that makes the Moon feel so present. She’s reflective and serene. I could be both of those things more often…

I don’t spend enough time celebrating the Night, the Dark, the Sacred. This year I’m reclaiming it and sharing it with you.

Maybe when it’s Dark, we can examine our souls, without as much heavy judgement, and then, perhaps, make some changes… Because there’s no question that we need to make changes. The world needs our Loving participation. It needs our insistence that all people are worthy and fine. It needs our refusal to allow the status quo of evil and fear and greed to continue. May we be Moon blessed and blessers, may we be moon dancers, may we be those who tip back our heads to let the Moon’s silver slide down our bodies.

Looking forward to the ways our own particular lunacies will unfold this year. But I tell you this, if Peace is going to come, it’s going to be because we decide it’s important… Let’s Dance!

LunacyWolfMoonJan1

A Year of LLVL Peace Comes to an End

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Deb and I had the best of times. I hope you did as well. Here’s one last picture for a day that didn’t fall into the 52 weeks…

It’s been a delight to focus on the place I live and people I live with. A delight to spend the year with you.

And next year, although I’m not really prepared and feeling poorly, I get to spend the year working with my sweet friend Lorriane… and on the moon… big introductions may come next week… I’m not really up to it yet… but oh, boy! She has some beautiful shots for us.

Thank you. I hope 2014 was a good year for you. I hope 2015 will be even more fun and I hope that exploring the dark and the beautiful moon is exciting… Let’s get out there and look at the beauty of the night sky… maybe that’s another place to pay attention to our community… or maybe ourselves!

LLVLDec31NYE

 

Growing Family Peace, llvl

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We never spent a lot of time together growing up — for whatever reasons. I’m sure part of it (and I inherited this from her) my grandmother didn’t deal well with chaos. Too many evans/bennett kids in one place = chaos!

It took family losses to bring us together. Death, divorce, more death. The more it happened, the more insistent we became that we gather.

And so we have, in whatever groups can get there… we usually eat… depending where we are, we might drink champagne… and we always laugh… We have a wedding coming soon, what joy… and then we wait a while while the kids grow up a bit… but still we gather.

I wish i knew how to bring the California families into this… and how to spend more time with the California families… life, it is what it is. sigh. But what it is is sweet — at least from time to time when we can make it happen. Let’s all make memories while we can…

Love, it’s what we need. And when faces we love look back at us with faces that are very like ours, it’s pretty wonderful. I had to wait 50 some years to get it, but i’ll claim this as mine — and as wonderful. Peace sometimes looks just like you, and isn’t that grand!

LLVL52Dec30

A Film, An Afternoon, Some Peace, llvl

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If you know me well, you know I’m not a movie person. If I do go to the movies, pretty much guaranteed to be light and fluffy. Mostly because I can tell myself “it’s just a movie,” all I want, but my brain’s still seeing whatever horrible thing (psychological or physical) that’s happening on screen. Sadly, it’s pretty true with books as well. I don’t have great boundaries, I guess.

And I work hard at those boundaries in my work. And it is work… so, that makes many movies unrelaxing… I know I miss a lot. But we cope the way we can…

And I’m working at keeping my eyes wide open where I am.

Profundity aside, there’s nothing like a great big fluffy, musical to make me happy. Meryl Streep AND Tracy Ullman. Bring it. It’s still a troubling line that Johnny Depp played, especially since they chose to make the child so young… add a younger wolf, and it wouldn’t have been quite so creepy. And they killed the Goddess… which has bothered me ever since I saw it on stage…  Yes I know, I have to see that stuff…

But it sure was fun! Popcorn, a good friend who giggles and a bunch of people I know, and more I don’t, laughing in the audience. Some days, the Joy is all the Peace you need for a day. Everyone needs days to just fill up on silliness and laughter! (Keeping the Sabbath silly!) Peace, baby!

LLVL52Dec29

Sabbath Peace Morsels, llvl

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Living la vida local. Knowing your community. I think these things really matter. Because if you know where you are in the world, and who’s around you, your movements can be freer.

Yesterday at a wedding, I watched two brides make two young men incredibly happy. They invited them into their family and gave them rings to signify their place in the pack. Both of these guys have challenging lives. Being not just accepted, but celebrated was amazing for them. And yet, it was a pretty easy gesture on the women’s part; the guys are already part of their lives. But that they thought of it, and then did it, was an act of kindness that touched and I would venture changed everyone there.

We can be different. We can do differently. We can transform people’s lives with our Love.

If we can, why wouldn’t we? Why wouldn’t we make Peace… maybe a lot of little steps can make the larger ones look less daunting. Maybe we’ll be encouraged to demand them of those who are in a better position to make them. Peace. We can stretch out our hands.

It’s Sunday in the midst of the holiday season… What wonderful thing are you going to do for yourself? Will you do it alone or with others? I’m going to the movies with a friend! yay!

LLVL52Dec28