Greetings All
The first week of August brings us our early Spring festival of Imbolc/First Light, and I thought this lovely poem by Thomas Merton (1915-1968) was most appropriate:
There is in all things an
inexhaustible sweetness and
purity, a silence that is a
fountain of action and joy.
It rises up in wordless gentleness
and flows out to me from
unseen roots of all created being.
The ceremony of Imbolc is symbolised by the flowers of early spring – daphne, narcissus and the snowdrop – all of which bloom bright in the cold.
This is a time for us to be conscious of what, in ourselves and in our lives, needs healing or renewal and to acknowledge the new stirrings of growth in our souls and lives that need protection and nurture that they might flourish in their time.
AUGUST bring us Imbolc/First Light on Sunday 5 and we welcome The Maiden at Full Moon on Sunday 26.
SEPTEMBER comes into perfect balance of day and night at Spring Equinox/Alban Eiler on Sunday 23 and we celebrate with our Moon Sisters at Full Moon on Wednesday 26.
The Woolshed awaits your wonderful presence.
Love, light and laughter,
Pamela /|\
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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.
Maiden Moon will be held on Sunday 26 August and Moon Sisters on Wednesday 26 September.
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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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.)
A WONDERFUL BOOK from our own
DIDO DUNLOP –
‘STORM WEATHERING – A Workbook for our Inner & Outer Climate’ $30
Contact Dido – dido@wisebirds.org
24 - 28 August
MINDFULNESS IN STILLNESS and MOVEMENT
A 4-day mindfulness and qi gong retreat
Tushita Hermitage Retreat Centre, Northland
rachel@theartofmindfulness.co.nz
Saturday 1 September
MOVING INTO MINDFULNESS
1-day silent mindfulness and qi gong retreat.
Thorndon, Wellington
rachel@theartofmindfulness.co.nz
Saturday 29 September
NATURAL EASE
1-day mindfulness and movement retreat
Lotus Yoga Centre, Paraparaumu
rachel@theartofmindfulness.co.nz
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THE WHEEL OF SEGAIS
The Wisdom of the Four Seasons as a Divination Tool
We’ve packed the boxes, we’ve put on the stickers, calculated the postage and the Wheel of Segais Personal Reader Kit is now available to buy!
http://www.wheelofsegais.com/
The divination kit contains a copy of the Wheel of Segais on which to do your casting; a Personal Reader Guide; nine hazelnuts for casting (plus a couple of extras in case you lose one or two) and a notebook and pen to record your personal reading.
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A READER FOR OTHERS?
After a successful launch of the Wheel of Segais Personal Reader Kit in Glastonbury on 4th June. My focus is now on completing the full training programme - The Wheel of Segais Become a Reader Course. Each participant will need to receive a Personal Reader Kit by mail before the on-line training begins. This will be included in the cost of the course as well as a copy of the initial recording from April 2017. If you wish to take the Course and have already purchased a Personal Reader Kit, then that will be deducted from the cost of the Course. The seven Sessions are being recorded now and I am researching ways that they can be interactive in part. My deadline for offering the Wheel of Segais Be A Reader course is mid-August 2018. If you intend to take the training and have not yet purchased a Personal Reader Kit you might like to consider buying a Kit now so that you will have had time to work with it before the training begins. I am offering one free reading with me via Skype or other suitable platform with every Personal Reader Kit purchased. www.wheelofsegais.com
Using the Wisdom of Nature to grow your dreams from Seed to Harvest
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 reading or a life coaching session in person, 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 or Life Coaching Session through my website – www.wheelofsegais.com
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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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PROGRAMME FOR AUGUST
5 (Sunday 11am) Imbolc/First
Light.
For Grove members only.
26 (Sunday 7pm) Full Moon
Celebrating the Divine
Feminine – The Maiden
PROGRAMME FOR SEPTEMBER
23 (Sunday 11am) Spring
Equinox/Alban Eiler
All welcome
26 Wednesday 7pm) Full Moon
Celebrating the Divine
Feminine – Moon Sisters
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IMBOLC / FIRST LIGHT / BRIGHID / PAKAWERA
(Hongonui, First Light)
11am, Sunday 5th 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 (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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SPRING EQUINOX / ALBAN EILIR
(Oestre/Te Wha o Mahura/Te Koanga)
11am, Sunday 23rd September at The Woolshed.
The Spring Equinox ceremony of the Druid tradition is known as Alban Eilir – ‘Light of the Earth’. Alban Eilir, at the point of balance between Imbolc and Beltane, as it is at the point of balance between day and night, is a time for festivity and celebration for it marks the beginning of a new phase, the beginning of the triumph of light.
In Druidry, Spring is considered so important, that three festivals are dedicated to this season: Imbolc, marking the first stirrings of Spring, Alban Eilir marking its more obvious beginning, and Beltane marking the time of its fullness, before it develops into the very different quality of Summer.
In ancient Maori society the rising of the star Aotahi (Canopus) announced the arrival of Spring, together with flowering of kowhai, rangiora and kotukutuku, the plants of the fourth lunar month spanning September and October. This was also a sign for kumara planting to begin. A key event was the return of pipiwharauroa, the shining cuckoo, from its winter stay in Hawaiki, the legendary Pacific homeland of the Maori.
In Europe, Spring Equinox was the festival of Eostre, the Saxon goddess of the dawn and Spring.
Bring your songs, stories, poems, music, dances, insights, etc. appropriate to the season to contribute to creating our own special ceremony. Please bring a ‘pot luck’ contribution for the feasting.
PLEASE NOTE: The Sun festivals (both Equinoxes and both Solstices) are open to all and we very much look forward to welcoming you here.
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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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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
‘Check it out - many new titles have been added.’
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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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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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