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…)

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.

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

SPIRIT’S STORY SPIRIT SPIR BEAR, BEAR and Tonka Too 
Date: 5/12/2008 1:01:23 AM Eastern DaylightTime

  I have been waiting for quite some time to tell the story of my beloved dog Spirit. Interesting too that at this time I am dogless for the first time since I found Luna in 1973.  Actually there was a span of 2 years after Luna passed that I was dogless but for most of my adult life, I have been graced with wonderful canine company. Tonight is also the eve of Spirit/Bear’s passing on Mother’s Day some 7 years ago.
I am now feeling ready for another dog in my life and am hoping that Spirit/Bear will feel that it is a good time to return to me on this side of the veil. (read on…)

Aphrodite and Oshun/Imbolc and Beyond
 

I like to celebrate the coming of the Sacred Love Goddesses starting on Feb 2 with Imbolc,Candlemas,Brigid’s Day and so on.
Mainstream culture likes to deify St. Valentine and give this bloodthirsty slayer of women the one day of the year that Love is supposed to Rule. How totally bizarre  and how the hell did he manage to grab that gig? I could research but let’s just chalk that up to the  badass patriarchy.
This just does not work for me at all so for years, I have celebrated  the time between Imbolc and Feb 14 or so as the Feast of Aphrodite. During this time one can delight in all manner of love rituals [as long as they are non-manipulative] and generally pump up your love groove. (read on…)

The Wise Woman’s Tarot by Flash Silvermoon

I will be offering a new feature for Pagan Ways. Grannymoon has asked me to do a 3 month reading for all the signs of the zodiac so that each of you can keep up with your shifts and changes during these ‘interesting times’.
I will be using my Wise Woman’s Tarot so I thought that it would be best to give you a little taste of the Divinatory Tool itself;
Meet The Wise Woman’s Tarot…….

The Wise Woman’s Tarot is a multicultural, matriarchal book with colorful companion deck. It celebrates the global female lineage in 78 powerful images. (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…)

Luna the Amazing Amazon Shepherd by Flash Silvermoon

My mare,Chinamoon has her head through the window of the computer room hoping that she can score a few more pears since its almost her 10th birthday.
My new kitten Star is fast asleep and cuddled up against the small of my back on the chair behind me while brother Red is on the floor curled in a ball. All in all,a most happy moment here with the Moonhaven Menagerie.
When I was at the Coffeeshoppe today, I ran into an old friend Steve, the Chiropractor who had once adjusted my dog Astarte.
He actually asked about China’s earlier incarnation,Luna, who is the Star of this chapter. Steve didn’t know anything about China but remembered how my ex and I would drive Luna around on a bean bag chair in the back of the car during her declining years with degenerative myolopathy. I had forgotten that he had known Luna because very few of my friends now remember her so the serendipity and timing of this walk down memory lane was quite amazing (read on…)

Around the early seventies it became apparent to me that my lesbian feminsim also needed a spiritual path that was congruent. I had been reading and studying about Witchcraft and for everything that I read this seeemd to fit my more anarchistic ways. Not a lot of rules there and they honor a Goddess hmmm sounded good to me and yet I was yet to have a real circle of women who believed as i did and I longed for that.
I remember that I first heard of Z when she was arrested in LA for reading Tarot Cards, or so they said. At the time I was also making my living on the East Coast reading Tarot Cards and starting women’s Kozmic Consciousness groups beacuse I didn’t think they would buy Coven’s just yet.

Sept 1975 NYC in the loft of artist Carol Clemments, I actually met Z and we shared Tarot readings on the floor over boxes.By this time,Z had become my Hera for standing up against the establishment to try to actually have Church status like the other religions and not have to pay taxes, she was very savvy and that was of course why they came down so hard and what led to her First US Tour to market The Feminist Book of Lights and Shadows..hence my meeting her in NYC.

(read on…)

How Far Out of the Broom Closet and into the Streets

Part of my “outness” is just me being me and if that helps another to be themselves more then part of my job is done whether as a witch,a lesbian,a feminist,,whatever closet you inhabit, I suggest that you feel around for ways to be more comfortable,more you whatever that is, , to test those boundaries and expand them and bust out as much as is comfortable and then in time push a little further.

My job is being a Priestess and that for me is my full time job which includes Divination, Astrology, Sacred Stones, Vibrational Healing,Animal Communication, teaching playing music and on and on so I am fortunate to love all that I do and not need to occupy a closet for any of these things.

Of course at times I have paid a price for my freedom and this was my choice to make.

(read on…)

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…)

Speaking as an out and proud lesbian of some 36 years, I agree that sexuality is not necessarily lesbian or straight or even BI but a continuum and we all fall in at different places on that line.
Nothing is WRONG except being what you are not.

Only you in your deepest places know this and can make your choices. One thing though that we must take into consideration in this discussion is that we live in a society of Compulsory Heterosexuality and sometimes fear and even economics plays a huge part in a woman’s choices.

(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…)