Flashes of Insight

The Politics of Spirituality

Some people think that these two concepts at best are unrelated and at worst are like Siamese twins in an unholy embrace that had best be separated before their collusion can do some serious damage.
I suggest that there is a very deep relationship between one’s spirituality which ideally upholds the Golden Rule, and how these rules manifest in the secular world.
I hear the term, “Good Christians” and I do know that they exist and make some fine efforts towards peace and helping the needy. That being said, when I saw Christian missionaries using the devastation in Haiti as an excuse to demand conversion for food and most recently in Uganda calling for the death and demise of gays, I think that Jesus himself would be inclined to come down and give these purveyors of hatred a solid thrashing. (read on…)

Ananga-manjari Bauer

Ananga-manjari has been practicing hatha and bhakti-yoga for 15 years under the instruction of her spiritual teacher Swami Krishnapada, who initiated her into the Vaisnava lineage as a priestess. She is a graduate of Cultural Anthropology, certified Integral Yoga Teacher, Doula & Childbirth Educator, Breastfeeding Counselor, Reiki master/teacher and Ayurvedic Thai Bodywork Practitioner. Her specialty is in teaching prenatal, postpartum and women’s yoga. She has created a style of yoga she calls Purnasya, meaning “Whole Being”. It incorporates aspects of Integral yoga, Vinyasa, Kundalini, Ecstatic movement and Belly dance. (read on…)

FOR THE FIRST TIME ANYWHERE WWFEST 7
Rebuilding Spiritual Confidence: The Dianic Tarot
w/ Billie Luisi Potts and Flash Silvermoon

Tarot Creators, Billie Luisi Potts and Flash Silvermoon discuss the herstory, evolution, and pathways of the women’s tarot revival including The Amazon Tarot I, II,[1980, 1984] and Flash’s Wise Woman’s tarot and others: their influence, impact, and usage in every day life.
THIS IS A RARE AND SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY

Billie Potts, nationally known women’s spirituality pioneer, artist, herbalist and educator, author of A New Women’s Tarot, editor/ coordinator/artist contributor to Amazon Tarot decks I, II, author of Small Scaled Goat-keeping, Witches Heal: Lesbian Herbal Self-Sufficiency, Uncounted Daughters: Jewish Women Healers in the West, Ergonomics: A Problem-solver’s Handbook, the forthcoming Simpler’s Joy, and Daughters of Agamede, and numerous articles on natural foods nutrition, herbal healing, and the intersections of the early women’s rights and anti-slavery movements. She has been facilitating herbal healing and tarot workshops across the US since 1976.

A studio potter and ceramic sculptor for 25 years, dairy goat farmer and organic grower for close to 40 years, she coordinated alternative healing facilities for major women’s music festivals, Michigan, NEWMR, East and West Coast Lesbian fests for fifteen years.

She holds a BA in history and classics, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Hunter College, NY and an MA in medieval history from Fordham University where she was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow. She retired as the longest serving Executive Director of the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, NY, and turns 70 this spring.

WISE WOMAN FESTIVAL FOUNDER FLASH SILVERMOON BIO

Flash Silvermoon is a Spiritual Renaissance Woman, the author and creator of The Wise Woman’s Tarot book and deck and the Wise Woman’s Festival.
Flash has been working with the Tarot as a Psychic, teacher, and author for some 40 years. Her metaphysical skills and interests are quite varied and she is equally at home reading an Astrological chart as delivering a Past Life Regression, Stone Healing, Flower Essence or Gem Elixir treatment, and of course communicating and treating the beloved animals. She teaches classes and seminars in all of these subjects as well.
Flash not only loves animals, but she is an Animal Communicator who lives in her Sanctuary, Moonhaven in Melrose, Fl with 4 cats. one Happy dog and the Appaloosa Mare Goddess, Chinamoon. (read on…)

PRIESTESS CHERIE LYON BIO and WORKSHOP for WWFest 7

Cherie Lyon is an Alchemical High Priestess and Facilitator. She has a private practice as a Shamanic Reiki Master where she integrates body-centered techniques with vibrational healing, acupressure, and mindfulness. She also conducts monthly empowerment circles, rituals, and ceremonies.

Through her devotion to the survival of the ancient mystery knowledge, Cherie’s mission is to promote the education and support of a holistic mind, body, and spirit. Her soul intention as she honors the tribal practice and Shamanic art of healing is to help others align with nature and shift their personal vibration. As each person’s vibrational field shifts, Cherie believes, so does the vibration of the world.

Cherie is from Chicago and makes her home in the greater Atlanta, GA area. She is available to facilitate anywhere in the country. Cherie is certified to facilitate the Natural Rhythms™ and Practical Priest~ess™ programs. She also functions as assistant to the director of Natural Rhythms.

Connecting with our Ancestry Lineage for Clearing and Empowerment (read on…)

INSPIRATION FOR THE SEVENTH ANNUAL WISE WOMAN’S FESTIVAL
APRIL 9-11 By Flash Silvermoon

Since 2003, we women have yet to change the world into a place of Peace, Justice, and Healing. We will take the opportunity of the Wise Woman’s Festival to gather again to put our wisest and best efforts towards that end. If anything, the need for peace and healing is more dire than ever before in our lives. Through spirited work and play, we will join together once more to restore our energies which have been so depleted by the ravages of war, the patriarchy,and the no-fundamentalists who are fundamentally ruining the world for the rest of us. By renewing our strength and coming together in the spirit of love, empowerment and healing, we can elevate the vibration of the planet, our sweet Mother Earth, for the good of the animals, the children, the ancestors and all the people… ALL OUR RELATIONS!!
YES THERE HAS BEEN CHANGE BUT WE STILL NEED TO CHANGE THE PARADIGM
LET US JOIN TOGETHER TO DREAM THE DREAM OF PEACE ALIVE!

Why have a Wise Woman Festival?
by Flash Silvermoon

As the 7th Wise Woman’s Festival approaches its April 9th Re- Birth, I hear the question from some folks..why?

There are many answers to this question, some more obvious than others. Let’s face it, anytime the tribes of Wise Women from near and far can gather to make music and magic, its a good thing we all know this. This is an invitation to Change The World, not such an ambitious feat for a Circle of Wisewomen!

Communing in nature with your women friends, attending fascinating workshops/hearing some of the finest women musicians around and sharing deep spaces of intuition and inspiration is always inviting.

With all that being said, I offer yet another factor as well. The concept of Homeopathy is among other things a way to treat the whole by treating a part. It is no secret that this world is in turmoil and on the edge of major trouble on many fronts. Interestingly, if you look at Florida as the place where the fabulous Bush Boys gained their foothold on the world via those lovely non ballots, it is not a bizarre concept to see this state as a place to begin to unwind the web of betrayals of the real evildoers.

Let Peace and an end to the Power over Patriarchal Paradigm begin here and now with we women. Let us bring the seeds of peace and global cooperation into reality by breathing life into this dream; to let it be more than just a dream ; something that we co create and manifest amongst ourselves. We can create a ripple effect, a 100th monkey idea if you will that can spread like a Tidal Wave of love, trust, and healing.

By being the change we want to see in this world for one weekend, we can effect the world by being that acupuncture needle in the state of Florida to unblock the stagnant chi and create a flow of new ideas for peace, freedom and justice not for just us but for all.

This is a most unique Gathering of the Tribes where Dianic Wiccans share ritual and magic with Native Medicine Women, Shamans with Yoruba, Pagans with New Age Women and many exquisite blends in our Rainbow Cosmic Gumbo! We wild, wise women will teach and learn the ways to heal ourselves and our Mother as we all cope and roll with the shifts and changes that these times demand.

This is not so much a crisis in economics as it is in Spirit. We have been poisoned by toxic doses of fear by a prevailing culture that knows that this will freeze and paralyze us all into hopelessness which is an easy way to control us.

OK, WHO IS READY TO COME OUT OF THE DEEP FREEZE AND INTO THE LIGHT OF THE SUN AND THE MOON? Sounds like a lot more fun to me!

As the Producer Priestess, I do my best to keep the price within reason for most women who want to come and offer a few work scholarships as well. Only $60 advance registration!

We know prayers, thoughts and intentions especially focused with others of a like mind and spirit can effect change in a profound and miraculous way. I am inviting you Wise Women to come help us effect this change. I believe this is a window of opportunity for a major Shift in Consciousness lets SEIZE THIS MOMENT IN HERSTORY!! We can turn the tides of war/poverty/bigotry/and violence! Are you willing to commit to this step with us?

“The moment one definitely commits oneself,then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred…..Whatever you can do or dream you can begin it. Boldness has genius,power,and magic in it. Begin it now.”…Goethe

Begin with us at www.flashsilvermoon.com for all Wise Woman’s Festival Info APRIL 9 -11 please post to all the women that you love. Please also join the Wise Woman’s Festival E list there for all updates

Blessings,
Flash Silvermoon

SEVENTH ANNUAL WISE WOMAN’S FESTIVAL APRIL 9-11
@ Florida Coalition For peace and Justice Camp, Hampton,N. Central Fl, near Gainesville
One of the Nation’s only Multi Traditional Goddess Festivals for Women
only $60 in advance for 3 days of music, magic,Lakota sweatlodge, workshops, camping, poetry, healing and drumming circles, and an incredible Healing Ritual for the Planet led by Priestesses from 4 traditions to RAISE THE VIBE FOR THE TRIBE
Presenters, Billie Luisi Potts,”Witches Heal”, Flash Silvermoon, “The Wise Woman’s Tarot”, The Blues Sisters, Robin G White, Cherie Lyon, Omi Aladora Ajamu, Butterfly Circle Woman, Lylly Rodriguez, Ann Harmon, Mariel Masque, Aurora Whitebird and many more awesome women and YOU!
CONTACT FLASH SILVERMOON 352 4752432 @
www.flashsilvermoon.com

A Favorite Solstice Ritual By Flash Silvermoon @ Moonhaven
Flash Silvermoon shares her thoughts for the Winter Solstice.

Along with jumping over the fire to affirm one’s new path, which is a wonderful tried and true ritual, I have created a fun and third eye opening ritual for Yule.

Tell all who come to your circle to bring a wrapped gift of something that they want to pass on. It needn’t be new but it can be and not too expensive… just something you want to pass on.
These gifts are placed in a box or sack in the center of the group.
The woman who begins has the Priestess or group member place a lovely blindfold over her eyes and then she reaches into the sack and lets the gift pick her. At this point she uses psychometry (a form of object reading where the diviner tunes into the object and gets impressions re the gift or giver) to divine the message from the gift etc. (read on…)

PROSPERITY RITUAL GREAT FOR TONIGHT’S FULL MOON IN TAURUS
by Flash silvermoon
My Class tonight at the Moonhaven Mystery School of Earth Magic for Women will be doing a Prosperity Ritual that I have created and have used for many many years and I am sharing it here for you to use tonight wherever you are or for future reference. it is really simple and needs to be done with a group ideally for the full and best result, even better if you are doing it for a shared cause. OTHER WOMEN, IF YOU WANT TO COME, BE SURE TO BRING THESE ITEMS WITH YOU and a donation for your participation.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED
1. Open Hearts, Minds and Enthusiasm
2.a vibrant NEW green candle in a holder or best , use one of the tall candles in a glass that last for 7days that you can get in some food stores in the ethnic food aisle
3. A gold or silver Dollar
4. Some Prosperity oil and incense buy or make your fave blend. Whatever you have, use some Cinnamon to quicken the result. Myrrh oil is very good as is Frankincense.
5. Magical Pouch of Transformation. A strong pouch - velvet , leather etc that you will use to create a rattle with every one’s coins
6. Sage, Cedar or some other form of banishing incense to use in the beginning when all release negative thought forms and ideas about $$
7. MOST IMPORTANT A CLEAR AND FOCUSED MIND with this you achieve all without it no candle or special oil can help! (read on…)

For Heaven’s Sake, Don’t Drink the Kozmic Kool Aid !
by Flash Silvermoon The Remix! please share

Interesting synchronicity today as I contemplate the needless tragic deaths in the “Sweatlodge” of last week. I have been furious ever since I heard the News commentator release the sad report about James Arthur Ray’s “Spiritual Warrior Retreat in Sedona, Ariz.
At $9,000 + a pop to sit at the feet of this Guru wannabe, we are seeing the Corporatization of Spirituality, Enlightenment to those who can afford it, God /Goddess sold to the highest bidder!
I had initially been pleased that “The Secret” had opened some people to positive thinking but as I saw it take on a Cultish twist where people started essentially blaming the downtrodden for not having a fat bank account and casting condescending glances as if they alone had the ANSWER.
Then I actually saw the film which begins with of all things, a man in a loin cloth, running away from persecutors because HE HAS THE SECRET! Talk about re-writing History and giving it a radical mastectomy to boot! Everyone should know that it was the Wise Women of old who had the secret and that it was no secret, no big deal just simply understanding that what one believes can indeed create and give shape to one’s reality. (read on…)

MOONHAVEN IN MELLOW ROSE HOME SWEET HOME
by FLASH SILVERMOON

Moonhaven is an illuminating and mystical space and I feel that this place is my home to the very core of me. It is a space so familiar yet continually offers surprises when I take the time to wander amidst the citrus groves, listen to the night call of the many Barred owls, or sit beneath the welcoming arms of the ancient Grandmother Tree.

The Grandmother Tree is a 500 + year old Live Oak that was struck and split in two by lightning some 300 years ago. Now she presides over Moonhaven like some all-enveloping Druid Priestess.

What an incredible metaphor for Flash Silvermoon to live beside this Phoenix, this awesome earth sculpture that was struck by lightning and not only didn’t die but thrived winding its moss laden arms around my lavender house!

It would not be at all difficult to imagine or perhaps even see the Faeries playing around and under this Ancient One dancing draped in Spanish Moss with acorn caps.

This majestic tree enchanted my Pagan soul into buying this homestead and becoming her caretaker. I have been honored to be in service of such a profound offering from Mother.Earth.

(read on…)

Wide Awake in Paradise 2008 Closes and 2009 Alligns
What a wondrous morning. I just finished a great outdoor shower as I like to do each day unless it is literally freezing. Thankfully today is warm and beautiful. Feeling fresh in my fluffy towel, I brought a bucket of food to my Appaloosa mare Chinamoon who was waiting patiently while “I cleaned up my act,” so to speak.
As she ate, I stroked her and  buried my nose in her soft fur filling my nostrils with her horsey scent. I have loved the scent of horses since I was a little girl and this morning it brought back fond memories and thrilled me to my core. (read on…)

WEATHERING THE STORM NAY FAY The Contiuning Saga of the Storm that Wouldn’t Leave
My four legged familiars and I have been sitting on the edge of this Fay storm for days and it has been both challenging, frightening, grounding and heartwarming. So much time to let the inner emotional storms ebb and flow between chores, stabilizing the space, meditating, doing ritual, seeing clients, and basically hunkering down.
As I often do when some big hurricane,fire,drought is afoot, I contacted special spiritual friends to help me protect Moonhaven and generally hold a peaceful safe space for all in the path of the potential disaster. As always, I ask that the storm does the least harm and the most good also using the 3 D’s.Divert,Dissapate, and Dissolve which actually works quite well. (read on…)

PLUTO IN SAGITTARIUS PASSING IT ON TO CAPRICORN
In trying to explore the last 12 years of Pluto in Sagittarius one cannot miss the fact that our government as well as others have become a theocracy, where one’s God or lack thereof becomes a major point of political power. Beliefs have become paramount with each side claiming to have the last word on what God wants.
Jupiter ruled Sagittarius is all about expanding beliefs and I believe that in spite of the bombastic over blown missives of the No-Fundamentalists of every stripe, we have also enjoyed more awareness and sharing of Cultural Diversity. (read on…)