Greetings All.
Beltane! Not only a time to celebrate love and the fertility of the land but also to light a Beltane fire to honour and burn away old attachments, to ask for a blessing or to enact a ritual of purification.
At this time of the union of the Feminine and Masculine powers, may your celebration of Beltane open you fully to the creativity and abundance of Life.
I give you this quote from Charles Cook:
Your deepest roots are in nature.
No matter who you are, where you live, or what kind of life you lead, you remain irrevocably linked with the rest of creation.
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CELEBRATING THE GODDESS: EXPLORING THE DIVINE FEMININE
7pm at The Woolshed
The focus of the evening is one of ‘Exploring the Divine Feminine’ and the role of the Goddess and her ‘workings’ within ourselves and in our lives.
There will be no celebration of Mother Moon at The Woolshed on 4th November as our Druid Grove will be honouring Beltane. On Monday 4th December we celebrate Tender Moon/The Midwife and cut the cord of what is holding us back!
A contribution to ‘supper’ would be appreciated. The Full Moon rituals are for women only. If you’re new and would like to attend just give Pamela a call on 2399234.
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THE WHEEL OF SEGAIS
The Wisdom of the Four Elements / Four Seasons as a Divination Tool
Exciting News!
Trial copies of the Wheel of Segais Personal Reader Kit have gone out to 12 wonderful people in the UK, US, Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand for review and feedback.
Once the feedback has been received and incorporated , The Wheel of Segais Personal Reader Kit will be available for sale, hopefully by the end of November in time for you to purchase for Christmas.
If you would like to be informed of when the Wheel of Segais Personal Reader Kit becomes available, please contact me through The Wheel of Segais website below.
The Wheel of Segais is a simple but profound template for understanding the innate nature of the universe and our place within it. It allows us to perceive all that we are and all that we need as we experience the turning of the wheel of the year - the Four Seasons, the 12 streams or stages and the Well of the Salmon of Wisdom, the Well of Segais itself, in the centre. If you would like a personal reading, you can contact me at pamela@thewoolshed.com, 0272068876 or 2399234.
Cost: $40
Out of town or in another country?
Book an on line reading through my website – www.wheelofsegais.com
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LENDING LIBRARY AT THE WOOLSHED
The lending library (books on spirituality, druidry, wicca, paganism, ritual, etc.) at The Woolshed is now open for business. Unfortunately we can’t send books out so you will just have to come and visit us at The Woolshed to access this fine library.
The link for our online library database is: http://connect.collectorz.com/users/
woolshedlib/books/view
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ARACHNE’S WEB
Arachne is the Spider Goddess who weaves the Web of the World and, sitting at its centre, receives all knowledge that vibrates along it. Here are a few ‘vibrations’, i.e. interesting workshops not held at The Woolshed that I think you might be interested in, or upcoming events at The Woolshed not yet in the Calendar. (Please contact Pamela if you would like an appropriate event displayed here.)
NEW BOOK RELEASE
OPEN ME – the true story of a magical journey from fear to freedom by Leanne Babcock.
A struggle… A dilemma… Terror… Alone… An inner knowing.
A story of courage and the willingness to risk it all…
http://openme.ca/
2 November – 14 December
(Thursdays 6-8pm)
WRITING FROM YOUR BODY
Combine dancing with writing
Innermost Gardens Hall, Mt.Vic
http://www.ingridkolle.net
dance@coreconnextion.co.nz
7 November
WALK WITH ME
One time screening of the film WALK WITH ME – A Journey into Mindfulness featuring THICH NHAT HANH
6pm, Events Cinema, Coastlands
Tickets: https://tickets.demand.film/event/2594
10 - 14 November
THE ART OF NATURAL EASE
4-day Mindfulness and Qi Gong Retreat
Te Moata Retreat Centre, Coromandel
Rachel Tobin
http://www.theartofmindfulness.co.nz/
tomoata/
18 November (10am-4pm)
CREATIVITY EXPLORED
Innermost Gardens Hall, Mt.Vic
http://www.ingridkolle.net
dance@coreconnextion.co.nz
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‘THE WOOLSHED’
is a farm of 136 acres situated on the hills of Pukerua Bay looking out over the sea and Kapiti Island. It is clothed in approximately 40 acres of native bush, including some of the last remaining stands of kohekohe on the Kapiti Coast. It is gardened organically – herbs, vegetables and fruit – and has three springs of clear water. It is a place of great peace, tranquillity and power. The original woolshed has been converted into personal living quarters as well as a work and seminar space.
It is a place for:
Study/Discussion Groups
Stress Management
Shiatsu and Massage
Total Pampering Days
Life Planning and Mentoring
Retreat
Meditation
Seasonal and Full Moon Celebrations
Wheel of Segais Readings
Pamela Meekings-Stewart is a:
Workshop Facilitator
- Four Elements/Four Seasons
- Wheel of Segais
Study/Discussion Group Facilitator
Life Planning Facilitator and Mentor
Retreat Facilitator
Marriage Celebrant
Civil Union Celebrant
Ritual Maker
Mythic Journey Facilitator
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PROGRAMME FOR NOVEMBER
4 (Saturday 10.30am) Nature Days
4 (Saturday 7pm) Beltane / Mother Moon
PROGRAMME FOR DECEMBER
2 (Saturday 10.30am) Nature Days
4 (Monday 7pm) Full Moon
Celebrating the Divine Feminine Tender Moon/The Midwife
17 (Sunday 11am) Summer Solstice/Alban Hefin
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NATURE DAYS at The Woolshed
10.30am Saturdays 4th November and 2nd December
Nature Days are for our tamariki to explore outside and develop a connection with Papatuakuku. It's a time for adults to step back and give their children opportunity to explore the wonders of nature and make their own discoveries while we keep them safe and plant seeds in their minds and hearts.
Nature Days start at 10.30am and run for a couple of hours on the first Saturday of every month. Rain or shine we will be there and welcome you to join us at the Story Telling Tree.
Sessions will start by gathering for a sharing of kai and a story before we set off to play. When children are ready, we come back in for a sharing circle. If you would like to know more, please Contact Mary - mezza_nz@ihug.co.nz and here’s a link to the facebook page: https://m.facebook.co
/NatureDaysWoolshed/
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BELTANE / WHIRINGANUKU /
FLOWERING & SAP RISE
7pm Saturday 4 November at The Woolshed
Halfway between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice, this is a high-energy time when the whole earth sings of growth and regeneration. Birds are nesting, deciduous trees leafing, flowers are blossoming and the increasing sun power quickens both sap and blood. Beltane is often referred to as ‘the night for lovers’!
To the Maori, this was Whiringanuku, the fifth month, when ka whakaniho nga mea katoa o te whenua i konei, ‘all things now put forth fresh growth’. A good flowering of ti kouka (cabbage tree) is said to be a sign that a long, fine summer will follow.
Beltane is the third of the Spring celebrations in the Druid tradition. The invigorating energies of Spring growth are flowing at their strongest through the earth, and through us too. The two elemental symbols for Beltane are water (healing and the times of the first swim) and fire (‘destroyed the powers hostile to humankind, purified the air, and allowed human and beast and vegetation to thrive and become fertile’)
Bring poems, stories, songs, dances, etc. and wear some greenery or green clothes. If the weather is kind and I can get a fire permit, we will light the Beltane fire.
We will have a celebration supper after the ceremony – please bring food to share.
PLEASE NOTE: The Quarter Festivals (Beltane, Lughnasadh, Samhuinn and Imbolc) are for members of the Grove of the Summer Stars only. The Sun festivals (both Equinoxes and both Solstices) are open to all and we look forward to welcoming you here.
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SUMMER SOLSTICE / ALBAN HEFIN / TE MARUAROA O TE RAUMATI
Sunday 17th December,
The Woolshed, 11am
Summer Solstice, the longest day, arrives as the year is coming to an end and the holiday season is about to begin, Although this is when the sun’s light reaches its maximum, it is but the threshold of summer. The crimson flowers of the pohutukawa fringe the coastline, dancing against the blue sea.
Summer is also announced by the appearance of the star/spirit woman Parearohi shimmering in the sky with her consort Rehua (Antares, the red star in Scorpio). Rehua was sometimes also referred to as the sun and people would say karakia to Rehua: Rehua is the sun, and if he did not shine the grass and vegetation would die and life would cease. This time of the light of Parearohi and Rehua is also how The Grove of the Summer Stars got its name.
In the Druid tradition, these words are spoken:
We are met here on the shortest night of the year to celebrate the zenith of the Mabon, the Sun-Child of the Druid tradition. We come together to honour a great mystery – that every zenith contains its nadir, as every nadir its zenith. And we come together too, to celebrate the power of light and warmth and Summer. The sun which has warmed and lighted us through the Wheel of the Year seems to stand still for several days. This is the time of Great Light.
This is also the time of Kiwi Christmas – a Summer Solstice rather than a Winter Solstice celebration in this part of the world.
Please arrive by 10.45am. Bring any readings, songs, poems, music, dances or stories which you feel are appropriate to this celebration of light. Also bring food to share for a Solstice lunch. This is an ‘open’ ritual and all (adults and children) are most welcome. Let’s make this a real family Summer Solstice.
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There are only four rules
for The Woolshed
Come with an open heart
Come with an open mind
Leave your prejudices at the door
Along with your shoes
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The Woolshed is a place to celebrate Spirit in Nature and warmly welcomes community participation. Here we celebrate the turning of the Wheel of the Year in Aotearoa New Zealand by holding Festivals appropriate to the seasons approximately every six weeks. These are the two Solstices (Winter and Summer), the two Equinoxes (Spring and Autumn) and the four Quarter Festivals – Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh (when we hold a Camp) and Samhain. The four Quarter Festivals are for Grove members only and the Solstices and Eqinoxes are open to all…These Festivals are open to all who wish to connect with the land and Her tides and times. We also have a native tree-planting programme and are always keen for offers of help for our frequent ‘working bees’. Our organic gardens and orchards also respond positively to extra hands.
A women-only group meets monthly on the Full Moon.
Also, if you would like to walk the hills and the bush on the farm then give us a ring –
04 2399234. I’m sure we can accommodate you.
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The farm can be a little hard to find, so please telephone (you can leave a message on the answerphone) and I will send you directions on a clear and detailed map.
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