Imbolc 2004
During the SEF "Journey into Spirit" fall
retreat, we performed a variety of Egyptian
rituals that were used for the newly dead,
as guidance for the passage into the
afterlife. As Priests and Priestesses, and
lacking any actual dead person to guide, we
were instead preparing ourselves for the
afterlife. To do this during life was initially a
bit curious, but as the rituals went on,
something more profound began to emerge.
During this time of year, approaching
February, many religions have emphasized
a period of purification. Purification during
life has often been associated with spiritual
awareness, or the throwing off of material,
emotional, and mental grossness to reveal
an inner spiritual truth.
The Egyptian rituals made repeated
reference to a declaration of purity, perhaps
despite the truth of how we actually behave.
In some ways, the rites form a body of
cultural values that tell of the right way to
live, both in terms of outer behavior and
inner attitudes. The Egyptians were clearly
aware that truth was very important if one
were to become closer to the gods. So here
we were, making declarations about how
pure and worthy we were, without some
"higher authority" to double-check us.
It brought out something that seems rather
relevant to pagan practice, having a lot to
do with how many of us are self-sufficient in
the way we worship and work magic.
Lacking a "central authority" to pass
judgment on us, we must put ourselves to
the test, and see with clear eyes on how we
are really doing, despite our "best
intentions". Most of us being rather not god-
like, the distance between what we want to
do and be like and the way we actually are
is usually greater than we might like.
And yet, the Egyptian rituals were powerful
and memorable. Hardly a mere cover-up of
the way we really are, they were instead
inspiring and uplifting, reinforcing that there
really is a "higher" standard that we can
take on as a worthy goal. The goal of being
pure is not simply one where we admit our
faults and try to do better next time. Based
on these rituals, it would seem that it
reflects more on our basic capacity to
mediate the power of the gods into our own
lives and the society we live in.
The Egyptian culture emphasized that each
person had fairly direct communication with
their ancestors. The shrines that families
set up and maintained for generations had
very much to do with supporting the living
rather than simply venerating the dead.
With this in mind, the purpose of the rituals
began to take on a more generalized
importance. The Egyptians felt that if life
was lived properly, then upon passage
beyond death, an individual not only took on
god-like qualities, but also shared that
power and wisdom with their descendants.
With this as a general societal attitude,
there must have been a much more positive
and functional approach towards death and
the fruits of the afterlife, compared to the
currently rather morbid western attitudes
about death. A proper attitude about living
made a person able to mediate the divine
power of the gods both during life and after
it.
Many of us have no cultural relationship
with literal ancestral power. Some of us
have dreams and visions that may be
communication with those who have
passed, but as a larger culture we lack the
means to reinforce the positive power of the
ancestral line. Performing these rituals
opened a window onto a world where we
declare ourselves to be pure as a matter of
intent, and that attracts the literal god-power
that lifts us out of the heaviness of living
into the radiant power of the spiritual world.
There is a prevailing western cultural
attitude that purity is basically unattainable,
due to the grossness of living. This attitude
may come from many centuries of a
hierarchy of the "worthy" and the
"sanctified" on top, and all the rest of us on
the bottom, scraping for a bit of merit that
might make life a little bit better. Although in
Egypt this was also likely the case, we can
still learn that the purification comes
because we intend it, and the fruits of that
purification go far beyond ourselves as
individuals.
This year's Annual Meeting of the Society of
Elder Faiths promises to be even more fun
than last year's, with the addition of a book
sale and a potluck brunch.
About Imbolg by Arachne
Yes, it is once again time to renew your
membership in the Society of Elder
Faiths! Enclosed you will find a
renewal form, which you can mail to us
with your 2004 dues. As soon as we
receive your renewal, we will send you
a new date sticker for the back of your
membership card.
The Coven Symbios is pleased
and proud to announce the elevation of
Kerberos to the Alexandrian 3rd Degree.
Kerberos is now the High Priest of Symbios,
with Arachne as High Priestess.
The following clergy are available through the Society of Elder Faiths:
SEF Messenger: The Community Newsletter of the Society of Elder Faiths
Held at the Brigham Hill Community Farm
starting 1:00 PM, the Annual Meeting is a
chance for the Board of Directors to report
to the membership what the SEF has done
over the past year, and what we have in
mind for the coming year. This is a good
opportunity for all members to offer us their
feedback and suggestions and, most
importantly, to volunteer to help with our
upcoming projects. Your enthusiasm and
involvement make a real difference to how
much the SEF can accomplish.
We will be selling new and used books,
both occult and general interest, at very low
prices. Money raised will be put towards
development of our land in western
Massachusetts. Bring your unneeded books
as a tax-deductible donation!
The brief and lively meeting will include a
report on membership, news on the land
development and building of stone circles in
Middlefield, and reports from the Treasurer.
We also expect an announcement about
the new SEF Forum, a series of classes for
SEF members (see article below).
After the meeting, there will be a chance to
informally get to know other SEF Members
over a potluck meal. Bring a fully-prepared
brunch or other dish to share.
For directions, call (508) 839-3457 or see
Goddesses of the Hearthfire: Hestia and Brigid
Imbolg is one of the cross-quarter, or greater, Sun festivals, meaning that it falls halfway between a Solstice and an Equinox. The cross-quarter feasts are usually celebrated on a fixed, "traditional" date rather than being exactly calculated according to the movement of the Sun, as are the Solstices and Equinoxes. Because Coven Symbios' Wicca is upon the Greek pantheon, our annual Imbolg celebration focuses upon one of the greatest of the Greek Goddesses: Hestia. Hestia was one of the original twelve Olympian Gods, and She is symbolized by Fire. Although Hestia was considered by the ancients so intrinsic to Life itself that She received the first and last libation at *every* sacred occasion, She is now one of the least known of the Goddesses. (Comparatively, Her Roman counterpart, Vesta, is much better known due to the impressive power wielded by her Priestesses, the Vestal Virgins.) Hestia was held in such reverence due to her very nature -- that of Fire. Fire is considered by many the great civilizing influence, a gift from the Gods. The hearth is the symbolic center of every home, and the very word "hearth" is closely related to "Hestia." Both the actual fire that heats our bodies and cooks our food, and the metaphorical "Fire" which is the passion and compassion burning in the heart of every individual are Hestia's legacy. The ritual Symbios performs at Imbolg is the Rite of Hestia. It is a ritual revolving about Her emblematic flame, which is used at this time of year for inner purification before the coming of Spring. We release the old and purify our hearts in preparation for the work of planting only weeks in the future. Whether your Spring planting will be actual or symbolic, in the outer world of the physical realm or deep within your spiritual Self, we invite you to join us in this rite.
Brigid of the Flame by Morwynna
Brigid is another virginal Goddess of hearth and home, often invoked at Imbolg for both purification and fertility. Her primal association with Imbolg has survived in the celebration of the feast of St. Brigid on February 2nd. In addition to the stabilizing hearthfire, She is also associated with the many transformational types of fire: the forge of the smith and the crafts worker; the divine spark of creative inspiration of the poet and the bard; and the personal warmth of the healer's energy, the spark of life. As Arachne has observed, fire is one of the primary civilizing forces. According to the late Joseph Campbell’s Occidental Mythology, in both Scotland and Ireland Brigid was considered “the bringer of civilization”.
A Time of Rest and Renewal
by Morwynna
Or you can save the postage and pay
in person at the Annual Meeting!
In order to cover ongoing costs of
sending you the Messenger, offering
classes and rituals, and the
development of our land in Western
Massachusetts for community use, we
have reluctantly raised the annual
Supporting Membership dues to $25.
Additional donations are also welcome.
We invite Supporting Members who
have been in good standing for one
year or more, and who are active in any
member-supported committees, to
apply for Full Membership. As an
additional part of their commitment, Full
members vote in the election of
Directors and other matters of the
Society, and may be nominated to
serve on the Board of Directors.
Applicants for Full membership must be
sponsored by a member of the Board
of Directors. For the Full Membership
application, please call 508 839-3457 or
see our website's membership page at:
http://www.elderfaiths.org/join.html.
Rites of Passage
A licensed Wiccan Elder, with ministerial credentials from the Covenant of the Goddess and the Society of Elder Faiths (SEF), authorized to perform legal weddings and handfastings. Also available for other religious services and Rites of Passage. Debbie Fields-Berry P.O. Box 335, B.U. Station Boston MA 02215 dberry@bu.edu 508 839-3457
I hold legal credentials through the Covenant of the Goddess and am ordained though the Society of Elder Faiths. I am willing to travel within New England and will work with people of any Neo-Pagan tradition or non-Pagans with an earth centered focus. I require an initial face to face meeting with a couple at least 2 months before a wedding. I have also performed Wiccanings and am available for other rites of passage. Peg P.O. Box 485 Upton, MA 01568-0485 meagan@control.com 508 839-3457
Imbolc 2004
Editor : Jennifer
Staff: Morwynna
© 2004 Society of Elder Faiths
SEF Members may submit news to:
news@elderfaiths.org
or
PO Box 30, Marlboro, MA 01752
or
508 839-3457