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The Woolshed Programme  July / August 2017


 
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Workshops      ~     Celebrations     ~      Festivals      ~     Gatherings
Greetings All
As we pass the point of Winter Solstice though not Winter itself, the wheel of the year starts to turn from darkness towards the light. This beautiful poem was shared at our Winter Solstice celebration as many of us expressed the wish to stay in our cave a little longer. It is written by Joyce Rupp and Macrina Widerkehr.
 
This year I do not want the dark to leave me.
I need its wrap of silent stillness
Its cloak of long lasting embrace.
Too much light has pulled me away from the chamber of gestation.
Let the dawns come late, let the sunsets arrive early.
Let the evenings extend themselves while I lean into the abyss of my being.
Let me lie in the cave of my soul, for too much light blinds me,
Steals the source of revelation.
Let me seek solace in the empty places of winter’s passage,
Those vast dark nights, that never fail to shelter me.

In JULY we celebrate  Daughter Moon, Birth of the Girl Child at Full Moon on the 9th.

In AUGUST we celebrate the glorious first Spring festival of Imbolc/First Light on Sunday 6th and at Full Moon on Tuesday 8th we will honour the flowering time of The Maiden.

The Woolshed awaits your wonderful presence.
Love, light and laughter,
Pamela /|\
IMBOLC / FIRST LIGHT / BRIGHID / PAKAWERA
(Hongonui, First Light)
11am, Sunday 6th August at The Woolshed followed by a shared lunch.


Imbolc or Imbolg (pronounced without the ‘b’) “ewe’s milk” represents the time of the quickening of the year, the first foetal stirrings of Spring in the womb of Mother Earth, Papatuanuku.  It is the only one of the eight Great Festivals given entirely to the Mother Goddess under many names, Brighid being the central one of the three, each representing a season. Not only the Celts and Druids, but also the Aztecs, Tibetans and Greeks all recognised this time as being one of great importance.


For Maori, First Light comes in the second lunar month of the year, Pakawera, described as ruarua huangohingohi when the leaves of all things become shrivelled by frost. However, the inanga (whitebait) begin to swim upstream and can be caught and at sea the moki are said to be growing fat.
This is a call to venture forth from your winter ‘cave’ and celebrate.  Brighid is the goddess associated with sacred fire, the art of smithing, the fertile earth, healing and poetry so bring your songs, stories, poems, music, dances, insights, etc. to contribute to creating our own special ceremony. Please bring a ‘pot luck’ contribution for the feasting.
 
PLEASE NOTE: The Quarter Festivals (Samhuinn, Imbolc, Beltane and Lughnasadh) 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.
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.
‘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
www.thewoolshedretreats.co.nz
PROGRAMME FOR JULY
9          (Sunday 7pm) Full Moon Celebrating the Divine Feminine – Birth of the Girl Child

PROGRAMME FOR AUGUST
6          (Sunday 11am) Imbolc/First Light. For Grove members only.
8          (Tuesday 7pm) Full Moon Celebrating the Divine Feminine – The Maiden
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.

On Sunday 9th July we will celebrate Daughter Moon/ Birth of the Girl Child and on Tuesday 8th August we will honour the flowering of The Maiden.

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.
THE WHEEL OF SEGAIS
The Wisdom of the Four Elements / Four Seasons as a Divination Tool

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.
Now that our Second Grand Cycle of the Four Seasons / Four Elements has concluded, I am available to do personal one-on-one readings for you here at The Woolshed (or possibly in a nice warm coffee bar somewhere).  If you would like a personal reading, you can contact me at pamela@thewoolshed.com, 0272068876 or 2399234.
Cost: $35
Out of town or in another country?  Stay Tuned!
Later this month you will be able to book an online reading through my new website – www.wheelofsegais.com
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
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
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.)
 
8 – 11 July
MOVING INTO STILLNESS
3 day silent residential mindfulness and qi gong retreat
Strathean House, Otaki
Rachel Tobin
http://www.theartofmindfulness.co.nz
/strathean/

 
29 September – 1 October
SRI SAKTI – HONOURING THE DIVINE FEMININE.  CHANTING SEMINAR with MENAKA DESIKACHAR
Raumati South Hall Tennis Court Rd., Raumati South
Sri is the name given to the divine feminine that manifests in so many forms around this wonderful universe.  In this seminar we will learn some Sakti chants using the traditional technique of adhyayanam.  Each day will include a meditative Yoga practice emphasizing the use of chant to give participants an opportunity to deeply connect with their own experience.
Cost: $315
Contact: Ruth Diggins – ruthyoga@paradise.net.nz
Tel: 04-905-6224 or 021-258-6865

29 September – 2 October
MOVING INTO MINDFULNESS
3 day Mindfulness and Qi Gong Retreat
Tushita Ashram, Peria Valley, Northland
Rachel Tobin
http://www.theartofmindfulness.co.nz
/tushita-ashram/
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.
Copyright © 2013 The Woolshed. All rights reserved.

Pamela Meekings-Stewart, The Woolshed, 144 Muri Road, Pukerua Bay, Porirua 5026
 
Tel: 04 239 9234 / 027 206 8876     e-mail: pamela@thewoolshed.com    web: www.thewoolshedretreats.co.nz
 

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The Woolshed · 144 Muri Rd, Pukerua Bay, New Zealand · Pukerua Bay, Wellington 5026 · New Zealand

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