Flashes of Insight

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…)

Omi Aladora Ajamu Priest of Yemonja

Omi Aladora Ajamu is a woman of great magic, music and power. She is a Yoruba Priest of Yemanja and founding mother of the African Connection an African Cultural performance group.

She and her family are part of the First Wave of Yoruba Priests that brought the Yoruba,[West African] Culture to the U.S. creating the Oyotungi African Village in Sheldon S.C.We are very fortunate that Omi and her family have resettled in Gainesville, Fl.

She worked in the early days with Martin Luther King as part of the Poor People’s March and was a lead in the Broadway production of Hair.

In addition she is a gifted Psychic and divines with the African Shells. She will be offering readings here at her booth.Omi is also part of the Blues Sisters as well as her own jazz band The Omi Aladora Ajamu Trio.

Workshop Goddesses of the Orisha

This workshop will introduce you to the magic and mystery of the Orisha, the Yoruba Goddesses… Yemanja, Oshun, Oya and others. Learn some of the chants and rituals of this ancient and very ALIVE culture.

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…)

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

RIGHT NOW
c Flash Silvermoon Goddess Tunes
I
The time is now there is no other time
The time is now there is no other time
To get down to your soul and let it make you whole
Take these broken wings and let them learn to fly
let em take you high
Like a bird with freedom in her eyes til you can kiss the sky let your dreams unwind
II
Right now right now feel your self Divine
Right now right now feel your self Divine
Face your fears don’t bring ‘em back here they’ll only
bring you down
Keep your heart wide open taste the joys of life
hold them in the light
Like a shapeshiftin’ makeshiftin’ freedom fighter on the higher planes it will keep you sane
Shapeshiftin makeshiftin freedom fighter on the higher planes its really not so strange
Really not so strange3x (read on…)

WOODSTOCK 40 YEARS LATER:
SEEDS FOR A NEW CONSCIOUSNESS

by Flash Silvermoon

It’s really hard to wrap my head around the fact that Woodstock happened 40 years ago on Aug 15 1969! They say that if you can remember the 60’s, which were really the late 60’s, then you weren’t there but I beg to differ.

It amazes me that my memories of those days and particularly Woodstock are as vivid as if they were yesterday. Considering the substances that flowed through my system that weekend, it is even more amazing.

There were two festivals occurring in my hood that month and I knew that I could only manage getting to one of them and thank the Goddess and all the Muses, that I decided that Woodstock was a better concert than the Atlantic City Fest which also looked pretty good.

During the summer of ‘69, I had gone cross-country to California and actually saw and met Grace Slick singing with the Jefferson Airplane at the Fillmore West in San Francisco. She and Janis were my idols and I was still flying high from the experience by the time I returned to New Jersey and prepared for Woodstock. I mention this adventure in Kali-fornia because while waiting on line to get into that Airplane concert, a funny little man saw me at the front of the line and asked me to save him a seat near me and he would “give me some good dope.” I said yes and would have helped him without the offer. I figured that he would give me a joint but instead he gave me a little purple pill that I immediately tucked into my amethyst poison ring for just the right occasion. I was actually traveling with my parents so this was clearly NOT the right time. As I write this part of me is saying, “Are you crazy taking a pill from a stranger?” But you must understand, those were different days and amongst the circles of folks that I traveled, people still had honor and trust with such things. (read on…)

YES WE CAN
BY FLASH SILVERMOON C/GODDESS TUNES 2008
I
There’s a promise in the air you can feel it everywhere
You can feel it everywhere Yes We Can

II
There’s a time for a change a time to turn the page
A time to come of age Yes We Can
CHORUS
Yes we can yes we can you can feel it in the air yes we can
Bridge
Our Ancestors they watch us with such pride
You know they’re marching with us
You can feel them by your side.
III
We’re Dancin in the streets huggin everyone we meet
Huggin everyone we meet Yes We Can
IV
There’s a smile on my face it’s a brand new day
A brand new day Yes We Can
Chorus
Yes we can yes we can yes we can ohhhhhhh oh we can
a brand new day YES WE CAN

SACRED RIVER SACRED SPRING
I have never been to a man made grotto or any of the well known ones however there is a particular spring head in the Itchetuknee River which is a crystal clear turquoise blue spring fed river and this one in particular, known as the Blue Hole, is a grotto for sure. I have had the same feeling diving into other spring heads in the many springs and rivers of this kind in Florida but the Blue Hole to me is like diving into the Yoni of Oshun. (read on…)

Questions by Ayedo

1. How do you get by spiritually when the world turns cold, icy,
dark, rainy or foggy?

2. Who are your spirit friends?

3. How do you connect with community for spiritual survival?

4. What spirit, deity or animal helps you get by during winter,
helping you find daily pleasure instead of angst as you maneuver
the dimly lit, slippery path in winter’s wake

Thanks so much for posing these provocative questions as I am very much struggling with them myself. I have been quietly acknowledging to myself that I am feeling blue and missing my core of friends all of whom died within a year of each other. I have made other friends but the deep kind don’t come easy.
Being the community Priestess and Shaman doesn’t always help either as all assume that you are fine always.
I rarely if ever get really depressed but I can feel it poking around my edges like a little frost in this cooler time.
So after contemplating these questions, I said to myself, Enough of This and lit my favorite incense in every room and proceeded to go out to feed my beautiful Appaloosa Mare.
I know that I find my deepest peace and sustenance in this Shamanic realm that I co - create under the loving arms of the Grandmother Tree in my White Room (read on…)

Modeling New Ways of Being-The Annual Wise Woman’s Festival Preparing for the 5thYear April 4-6!
by Flash Silvermoon

These are very exciting times and it has never been more important for us to start living into a higher consciousness.
The Annual Wise Woman’s Festival is one of those experiences of living into a such a consciousness and space that grows year after year in empowerment,safety,and deep sharing by all.
Its hard to find words to describe the intensity and subtlety of the uplifting feelings we enjoy at the WWFest.It is always a heartwarming empowering experience of soul connection for many with their sisters, lovers and friends. (read on…)

CALL TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE
Yeah I am finally giving this workshop/playshop

COME RELEASE YOUR INNER DRUMMER

PLAYSHOP
FRIDAY DEC 7 7-9PM @WILD IRIS BOOKS
WITH FLASH SILVERMOON
There’s always something magical when women put their hands on a drum and this night will open that road for you.For the beginner and advanced levels

bring your drums and other percussive noisy toys and join in a circle of drum jams and drum talk.If you don’t have a drum, some may be available for sale and some will be available just to play.
Cost $15
WILD IRIS BOOKS 802 WEST UNIVERSITY AVE
GAINESVILLE FL FOR INFO CALL 375-7477
OR FLASH- 352 4752432
to hear some of Flashes Music and drumming go to this site below and download some free music from her CD’s
* The Wise Woman’s Tarot - http://www.flashsilvermoon.com *

A piece that was excerpted for a book published on Feminist activists of the early 70’s it is written and editted by Barbara Love who wrote Sappho Was a Right On Woman. Might Have been called Women Who Changed the World 1970-75

Their editted version of this article is infinitely more tame.

I entered the Women’s Movement in 1970 from the left, I was very involved with the Anti-war Movement for several years before as well as Civil Rights. I went to Woodstock in ‘69 and I was very much a child of the ’60’s. a child of Woodstock Nation.

However, my politics of peace and love got very radicalized after being teargassed in DC during some Moratorium marches and did major organizing for May Day ‘70. I also participated earlier in the Poor Peoples March when it came through my College.

In 1970, I ran for Miss Trenton State College in NJ as a feminist and blew the doors off the competition. All the papers interviewed me for weeks and the show actually brought together most of the radicals of the day from a tri state area. It was a riot and the Dean tried to arrest me for inciting one but I helped contain the experience to a political event and also made sure that interviewers and other protesters only put down the beauty pageant, not the women in them!

(read on…)

Flash Silvermoon Interview..for Pagan Pathways
Date: 10/2/2007 8:36:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Thank you so much for agreeing to share with us! Please do tell us about yourself and feel free to be as in depth as you like!We would love to print your picture too!

ok I will pick a couple for ya

Where were you born and raised and what are some of your earliest memories?

I was born in the presence of my mother on March 18, 1950, in Jersey City, NJ. I am quite sure that my room must have faced the Statue of Liberty because I have been a freedom fighter for as long as I can remember. They tell me that after singing Happy Birthday to me on my first birthday, I smiled and put my fist through the cake!

My first Feminist action took place in kindergarten at 4 yrs of age. I had been participating in the rhythm band for a couple of weeks just waiting for my turn to play the snare drum. I had clicked the claves and clanged the triangle but that magic moment when my sticks would strike the skin of the DRUM was awaiting me that morning or so I thought. I was not raised to think that girls were inferior to boys so imagine my surprise when I had the sticks taken from my hands and was told that girls could play anything but this and that I could go to the back of the line again.

My little egalitarian heart was breaking but I screwed up my courage to tell the teacher that this was unfair and was there something else that I could do during this time as I didn’t want to be a part of something so unfair. She told me that I could fingerprint and so I stood in the corner for the rest of the year and finger-painted during the rhythm band time.
This theme and connection with the drums has followed me all the way through adulthood and today am appreciated as an accomplished percussionist. (read on…)

5. SAVOR YOU LIKE CHOCOLATE

I want to savor you like chocolate , baby
     So let those flavors flow…
I want to savor you like chocolate mama, so let your body go.
Well, we don’t need to rush…there’s so very much,
     so very much we can share, ooh, yeah…
I want to savor you like chocolate, baby, melting me into you.

Slowly like honey, our flavors blend,
     mocha dark & bittersweet
A taste so sublime I want it all of the time
     Ooh, baby, you’re so sweet.

Well, we can heat it up or play so very cool
Loving you all night is what I want to do
I want to savor you like chocolate so do me a favor…
     be my favorite flavor
Melting all over me, my favorite fantasy.
You into me.  Me into you,  Oh, my Goddess, what we gonna do.

I want to savor you like chocolate, so give me a taste
     there’s no time to waste.
So slowly go down …(I really mean it); Slowly go down…
I ain’t  fooling around, baby baby and slowly go down…with me.
Oh c’mon baby let’s savor it
* The Wise Woman’s Tarot - http://www.flashsilvermoon.com *