Pan-Dianic and Dianic

In his recent Wild Hunt coverage of the Bloodroot Honey Priestess Tribe's retirement from the Z Budapest lineage of Dianic Wicca and relinquishment of the name "Amazon," Jason Pitzl-Waters of The Wild Hunt blog wrote,

"...when schisms happen, when new groups form, our “umbrella” simply expands to encompass them too. That said, changes, evolution, and yes, schism, can signal a sea change within the larger whole (think of Buckland and Cunningham ushering in the self-initiatory “solitary” paradigm). A barometer to measure changes in our community’s weather. It is within this context, I feel, that we should view the press release just sent out by Lady Yeshe Rabbit and the Amazon Priestess Tribe."

The historical implications of my actions neither elude me nor impress me. I notice them most significantly as my own path unfolding and I feel a mixture of self-consciousness and hope that whatever example I might be setting will be of benefit. I see this evolution in my life as natural, and I am in a practice of surrender to an inner call of conscience that grew and developed over a period of time and under my own watchful curiosity. When I crossed a certain line of resistance around the issue of gender, my emotional attachments to one single way of thinking became significantly less important to me than finding my own most authentic, mindful, active possible role in the restoration of peace and justice, the easing of hearts/hurts, and the potential that a greater strength in our community might emerge from this work. In short, I stepped out of my own way and allowed something new to emerge.

From what I am told by my sisters who have given birth, stepping out of the way of yourself is not only beneficial, it is demanded by the body within the process of labor and delivery. One song beloved of the Bloodroot Honey Priestesses has a line that goes, "I transform my body and birth myself again," and it is a reclamation of our eternal sovereignty. I made the decision to evolve my own work from my intellect and my heart together in concert, without presumption that anyone else needs to share my feelings. For those who do share my feelings, I am happy to contribute in whatever small way I can to making this whole thing we call pagan life work out well, but your journey is your own. I welcome you to share your observations of your own journey with me, if you wish. I can learn a lot from others' experiences, and I learn the most from my own. I am sharing my thoughts here in transparency so that you can see how my engine works, in case you are curious about the mechanics of my decision, along with my sisters, to take this step.

Around and within us, the cosmos demands evolution on a regular basis. "Adapt or die" is one law of natural selection, and humans and animals and nature on this planet continue to answer that call on a daily basis, with inventions, mutations, and iterations.

Yet another law of natural selection is longevity: in order to be classified within a given genus or species category, certain core aspects of an organism must remain relatively unaltered over time. For example, in 40 million years of the evolution of rabbits, lagomorph bone structure and size have remained relatively unchanged, with a few notable exceptions within select and specific contexts.

In short, in order to survive, an organism must have evolutionary flexibility AND a consistent core structure. But if one group of rabbits in Northern Kentucky have certain characteristics not found in rabbits in, say, Belgium, are they all still lagomorphs?

Yes. And this becomes important later in this essay.

I've fielded a few questions thus far about the meaning of the term "Pan-Dianic" versus "Dianic." I'd like to start by saying there is no "versus" in this equation. They are co-existent, co-creative, and can be collaborative at times and not at other times, based upon the needs of those willing who have decided to create a temporary autonomous universe within any given Goddess circle.

Science offers us a possible approach to understanding the terms Dianic and Pan-Dianic via taxonomic ranks, beginning with the largest and widest possible lens, and narrowing things down to the most specific possible lens: kingdom (I would call it queendom, just sayin'), phylum/division, class, order, family, genus, species. The genus and species designations offer the greatest possible individual detail about an organism to the scientist observing an organism. This is where we find greatly varying expressions in plumage, color, bone lengths, abilities evolved over time due to geography, etc.

In taxonomy, there are conflicting viewpoints, of course. Various taxonomists over the years have disagreed and debated over certain types of designations, and even now, debates continue about whether or not to include certain nomenclature that suggests DNA research in the emerging taxonomies of genetically-modified organisms. You, reading this, might not categorize things the same way I do. I'm an armchair taxonomist at best :) My main purpose here is to introduce a possible lens through which we can view a specific point I plan to make. The most important thing to note about the scientific taxonomic system is that we do not predicate one designation over the other as "better." They simply convey degrees of specificity from widest possible lens to most specific possible lens.

In this sense, as Pan-Dianic suggests a broader designation of who is included in Goddess-centered worship space and under the definition of "embodied Goddess," we might place it at the "Family" level, with Dianic Wicca as one of many possible more-specific Goddess-centered "Genus" Traditions, and with the "Species" as various lineages within each.

There is another way we might look at Goddess worship in the US, as well. We might analyze ourselves along a continuum based on our practices, beliefs, and/or experience. We might say, "We are all involved in Earth-based Goddess practices, and along this continuum we find this and that and this iteration of that, and this completely different thing on this end..." Thinking about that as a possible way of understanding Goddess worship in the US is, for me, an exercise in "who do I sit next to whom at the dinner party?" Sorting the guests into tables, as is done at many large formal gatherings, is considered in some circles to be a mark of good judgment and respect on the part of the host/ess. It's not that I think one guest is better than another, or unable to make his/her own decisions; obviously they are all equally invited as honored guests, but if I am the hostess and the point of overlap, I do want to take into account their personalities, preferences, and sensibilities so that all can enjoy themselves. Since we are all the hosts of our own personal worldviews, we can see how different people might delineate different contiuum models based on their own preferences. A continuum of continuums. I am comfortable with that. I have room for all of that in my worldview.

There is yet another lens through which we can view Goddess worship in the US. One of our most natural gravitational forces is centrifugal, with all of us gathering in a circle around an invoked or co-created energy at the center that extends to include all in the spiraling, spherical dance of ecstasy and the profound experience of "worlds within worlds." In this model, we do not find ourselves sorted very specifically other than all as active co-creators and participants in a temporary autonomous universe that has resonance in all other universes. There might be a leader or more than one leader who is actively holding that center space for the sake of the work, but all are equal as beings. The well-loved song, written by Rick Hamouris, says it all: "We are a circle within a circle, with no beginning and never ending." (Hey- while you're at it, go fund DJ Hamouris's Kickstarter for her new album, "Snapshots.")

By looking at Goddess worship in the US as a circle, we can best see the most compelling arguments for inclusivity: all are equal at the table of the Goddess, gathered around Her life-giving Mysteries. We can also see arguments for exclusivity: "We are a circle WITHIN a circle. We are a circle of our own. The specificity of our unique experience is meaningful." I think both are true.

In short, to evoke the Kentucky rabbits and the Belgian rabbits of my earlier example, we are all similar in love for the Goddess here: we all place Her at the center of our practice, we all espouse feminist goals of equality, honor, and respect for all, we all hold the Goddess as sovereign and primary.

As Pan-Dianics, we take the additional view that the Goddess is present, whole and sovereign within each and every body, not only the bodies of cisgender women, and we stand for personal sovereignty and self-determination in the means one uses to locate and connect with that inner and/or outer Goddess. In short, we Pan-Dianics are looking at the same mountain as our Dianic sisters, but we have a panoramic lens as opposed to a close-up lens. Both are important. Both enable the witness of beauty and wonder. Both views will stir the heart, but one might appeal more to one type of person than another.

I'd like to take this opportunity to say that our Tribe's decision, along with the Living Temple of Diana, and Rosmarinus Stehlik, to begin referring to ourselves as Pan-Dianic, is not to deny our Dianic sisters their crucial space for healing, nor is it a rejection of the goals of equality, respect, and honor for cisgender women. Rather, we include the Dianic spaces and truths within the scope of our plural worldview as crucial to our shared vision of a healed planet where the Goddess is alive and freely embodied in the heart of each being who welcomes or needs Her.

If we were to look at Pan-Dianic and Dianic along a continuum, they are two guests that might feel glad to sit next to one another at the table. They will find they have enough in common to establish parity, and enough different to create an invigorating conversation. We might find that we read many of the same news sources, follow many of the same wisdom principles, share some experiences. We also might find that our places of divergence are fruitful and rich for exploration of the Goddess and Her messages and meanings in our individual lives and groups. Personally, I feel the whole world to be my teacher, and I welcome continued dialogue with all of my Pan-Dianic, Dianic, and other pagan sisters and brothers of many paths. I can talk about the Goddess/life/magic/the universe forever. And I find it rewarding, even when the rough edges of conversation are occasionally uncomfortable.

If we embrace the spherical model of analysis to look at Pan-Dianic and Dianic, we see the Goddess at the center of the sphere, with all of us swirling about her in the dance of co-creation. Our source is common - just like the core of the planet, while our surface structures are diverse (islands and continents). I look around at the Goddess community, at the pagan community, and also at many other faith systems that might not identify within the scope of either, and I see vastness, timelessness, endless possibility for awakening, beauty when understanding is achieved through community, and mutuality with respect for the "circles within circles" as well.

In short, for those who are curious, there is no argument or hierarchy in this comparison between Pan-Dianic and Dianic. They are structurally different, with one dedicated to the goals of plurality and one focused with specificity on a particular set of experiences. They are both valid within the larger scope of Goddess worship. Goddess worship is valid within the larger scope of reverence on Earth. And, I believe, reverence on Earth is valid as it relates to the survival of our planet and species in peace and sustainability.

It is my hope that this might help those who are adjusting to the new designation, and wondering where I stand. I remain firmly dedicated to my ongoing commitment to wholeness within, feminist goals, wellness of all beings, and worship of the Goddess.

As a reminder, this is what the Bloodroot Honey Priestesses define as the core principles of our Pan-Dianic practice:

As Pan-Dianics:

We honor everyone walking their own paths of knowing and serving the Goddess, including all beings of all genders.

We respect the sovereignty and autonomy of all individuals/groups to ritually honor the Goddess as whole and sovereign unto Herself according to their unique needs and preferences.

We support, for those who wish it, ritually gathering around specific experiences with appropriately- and respectfully-invited attendees rather than biological determinism as a matter of universal exclusion. For example, we believe it is every 11-year-old Maiden's right to determine who will be present at her First Moon ceremony. We equally support gatherings that are open to all self-identified women for exploration of the varieties of women's experiences. We equally support groups of gay men gathering to honor their own Goddess natures. We support the right of trans-women to create rituals specific to their experiences, and to share these with other trans-women and cis-women as they see fit. We support the idea of cis-gender, cissexual, heterosexual men gathering to explore the Goddess as daughter, friend, universal love, mother, queen, self. And so forth, into infinite beautiful variety.

We hold for clarity, compassion, and linguistic sensitivity in delineating intentional sacred space, and mindfulness toward how we communicate around the topics of privilege, healing, and spirituality. Our discourse shapes the universe. Words are breath, power, actualization. We hold our use of language as a significant magical responsibility.

We hold a commitment to elevation of all women's rights at the center of our vision. We believe that elevation of cis-women's and trans-women's rights to a position of honored equality will open humanity as a whole toward a more balanced and healthy approach to life, the planet, and consciousness.

We invite others who share our commitment to personal sovereignty and inclusive Goddess community to also adopt this terminology, if it feels correct to you. There are no initiations required to call yourself Pan-Dianic. If what you read here resonates with you, you will just know it to be your truth. Beyond that, your choice to study with any teacher, or join or initiate into any particular group is a private matter, up to you.

Thanks for continuing along this journey of exploration, and blessed be.

Guilty as "Charged"

At this point, it would surprise me if there was anyone in the American pagan scene who was not at least passingly familiar with Doreen Valiente's Charge of the Goddess. It is a greatly-beloved prayer that appears to have started within a particular Coven of the Gardnerian Tradition, but then made its way all over neo-paganism.

This prayer is so beautiful, so evocative, so powerful, that it has spawned what I can only call the "fanfiction" of pagan prayer writing. Many different groups have their own Charges of the Goddess. Starhawk has written one. Z Budapest has written one in the Holy Book of Women's Mysteries. And many, many others have as well (feel free to post links to yours if you like, or others you enjoy, in the comments section, giving credit to the author).

CAYA Coven uses the Z Budapest Charge of the Star Goddess in our full moon rites, but we have also written our own Charges as well. We have a Charge of the Sun God that I wrote, a Great Charge which is the interspersed tandem reading of the Charge of the Star Goddess with the Charge of the Sun God. Most recently, we have a Charge of the Dark God by Gatekeeper Jey (which I am hoping to be able to link to soon) and a Charge of the Dark Goddess that I wrote.

I feel that the structure of this prayer, along with its pedigree and variety of iteration, is one of the core Mysteries that unites many of us as pagans. Though we may not all walk paths that embrace this particular prayer, like the song "Amazing Grace," it still touches a place within many of us as even just a fond memory from one of the first circles we attended, or in reminding us of a dear friend who loves it, etc. This prayer, when recited as originally written or when honored with an alternate interpretation, immediately commands a very significant power. That power is free for us to use, of course. But the prayer asks things of us as well.

It asks for "Love unto all beings."

It asks us to "Keep pure our highest ideal."

It asks us, "Let my worship be in the heart that rejoices."

It tell us that the mystery can only be found within.

It asks us to embody, "beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility/pride*, mirth and reverence."

*Z's version says "honor and pride" rather than "honor and humility." My coven sister Wishbringer Molly Blue Dawn says, "True pride and true humility are the same thing: they are just YOU, being YOU fully, knowing and accepting who YOU are and being that as best YOU can be. And knowing this to be true without pushing it onto anybody." I agree. Molly's logic is usually flawless, as far as I am concerned.

On a daily basis, I take these as my guiding principles. They serve as a strong ethical base for me. I stand for many things, but love, high ideals, joy, beauty, strength, power, compassion, honor, humility and pride, mirth, reverence, and self-knowing are as good a place to start as any, so I do.

These points of self-exploration and striving toward my vision of who I want to be lead me on a constantly-evolving path. Last Thursday, I set an intention and made a change in my spiritual practice with my sisterhood, the Bloodroot Honey Priestess Tribe. In fact, we then went on retreat with our Coven's entire Clergy (except for a few beloveds who could not make it) and we made a GOOD MANY magical and practical changes that will allow us to evolve as a whole community. It was one of the most powerful magical weekends of my life. Literally, in ritual, laughing and crying and carried on a breath of joy, shaking with the power of it, glowing and on fire and collective visions and heat rising from within till I felt warm and dissolved like honey in hot tea and MAAAAAAGGGGIIIIIIIICCCCC. You know what I'm talking about. In CAYA, and I am not bragging, but am so very grateful, we enjoy various tastes of that kind of energy all the time, because of our wonderful coveners and the love that goes into each ritual. But even we, who offer about 50 rituals per year to thousands of people, were shaken up and moved around a good bit by this weekend's magic. Good stuff.

I got home from the incredible weekend on the mountain and found that, predictably, there are those who feel personally threatened by my decision to evolve my practice from Dianic Wicca to being Pan-Dianic. I do understand why some might feel this way, as I have noted human beings take a lot of things personally, even when not directed involved. Though I have received nothing but support and kindness from my sisters who are remaining HPS' in the Dianic Wicca Tradition, there are still uninvolved parties who wish to share their opinion. I get it. It's a public issue, and a hot one right now. I could have just done it quietly, but I did feel that with the strain and difficulty that has enswathed this issue, demonstrating a both/and model might be healing and helpful, and I stand by that. I know it to be my best personal course. I have listened and thought about it and talked it over and gone within and spent a lot of time in contemplation about this.

A Dianic woman said on Facebook, "Very disappointing, Rabbit. To denounce your Elder and High Priestess. A very sad day in the Dianic community. Another loss to the patriarchy. Sister, don't you see? It's male power-over wanting to get into anything they want. I support anyone's right to put their tits on their back if they want, but surgery does not make a woman. Only the Mother Goddess makes women. Shame on your pride."

My first thought was...But, but, but...

I have always supported Z's ventures dutifully, personally, financially, and with my energy as an honored Elder, and I acknowledge her significant impact on my path, personally and in writing, even in my statement of retirement. Doesn't that mean something?

I am a powerful woman who has already created and sustained a matriarchal, Goddess-centered community with loving support from her sisters AND brothers, doesn't that mean something?

I don't use the word "tits" to refer to the sacred vessels of the Goddess, especially in messages with people I don't know. I honor them more than that. Doesn't that mean something?

I could go on, but you get my drift. I had a lot of defensive feelings. However, I have more powerful feelings than these, inspired by the prayers that guide my way, by my divine indwelling spirit, by the community I serve, and by my love for the Goddess.

If true pride and true humility are the same thing, and they are both about being true to yourself and humbly owning that with a sense of personal agency;

if self-empowerment toward the greater empowerment of all is my work in myself, my community, and the world;

if spirituality is a personal matter that I am pursuing with the deepest sense of reverence and honor that I am capable of;

and if that means checking in with love unto all beings, pursuing my highest ideals, and the virtues set out by one of our community's most beloved and powerful prayers, well, then...

I think it would be an honor to be guilty as "Charged."

I have no fight here. Honestly, I don't have the time to fight with anybody. I have a personal life and a spiritual process and a lot of social responsibility to my community, and they are where I am putting my energy. Blessings to all, and thanks to many people for a warm outpouring of support. I speak on behalf of my sisterhood when I say thank you to those who have been part of this journey in whatever fashion thus far, and those yet to come to the journey that is still unfolding, who are willing to share their joyful hearts.

Charge of the Dark Goddess

This past weekend at the CAYA Clergy Retreat, I was able to sit under a magnolia tree in the dappled sun and write for a long while. I was inspired by Gatekeeper Jey's Charge of the Dark God, which was based off my Charge of the Sun God, which is based on the Z Budapest version of Charge of the Star Goddess found in the Holy Book of Women's Mysteries. Hah! Yes, in CAYA we actually ARE a mutual appreciation society. We've learned that appreciation feels good, to give and receive, and makes our circles tighter.

I wrote this as a gift to my Bloodroot Honey sisters, in honor of their courage and grace in doing our part to advance peace and LOVEBLISSCONSCIOUSNESS, as our friend Lady Ro puts it.

Charge of the Dark Goddess
in honor of courage and grace while growing

Hear ye the words of the Dark Goddess,
the blood of whose womb is the ocean of time,
whose body is just like mine.*

I am the wing of the black bird,
and the flight of the fertile queen,
and the shedding of the serpent,
and the grail of immortal wine.

Call unto your soul, "Arise!" and come unto me
for I am the soul of awakening
that opens and clears the mind.

From me you sip scarlet wisdom
and unto me you deliver your secrets.

Before my altar of garnet and gold,
let your divine, deepest self be my sacrifice
for the sake of renewal.

Let my worship be in the heart of courage, for behold:
all acts of blood and reverence are my rituals.

Therefore let there be beauty and strength,
power and compassion,
honor and pride,
mirth and reverence among you.

And those of you who seek to know me, know this-
that your seeking and yearning shall avail you not unless you know the Mystery:
that if that which you seek is pure magic,
it starts with the beat of your heart.
For behold! I have been with you from the beginning,
and when you gaze into the mirrored abyss,
I am there.

-Yeshe Rabbit, copyright 2012

* The Finno-Ugric Mordvin people, according to the book Goddesses in World Mythology, worshiped a sisterhood of animistic goddesses known as the "Avas." They are the divine indwelling "little mothers" of natural forces and daily life. One of these is called "Niske-Ava," and she is the Ava of women. She does not have any iconography. Rather, she takes the shape and appearance of any woman who is revering her. She is the goddess in the mirror. From the womb of time we draw forth that eternal inner "little mother" who looks back from our scrying glass, who sees our truth with clarity. She is wise and waiting. In this spirit, I write this prayer for all to experience the Goddess within, leaving no one out.

The Charge of the Sun God

In Spring of 200y or so, when CAYA was beginning to offer men's full moon circles under the direction of Capt. Jack of Bears, I began having dreams of the gods. Odin appeared three mornings in a row, each time wordlessly drawing the rune Jera into the air in front of my face where it left an imprint of light, and then I would wake up. Another night, Shango was playing the drums while Oshun danced. In another dream (my favorite), a gnome with muddy boots marched up from the foot of my bed, leaving footprints on the blanket. He stood on my chest, glared down and me, and said, "Well? What are you lazing about for? Get up and be a witch!" and then I woke up, laughing. These dreams continued for several months, into the Summer. In the last dream of the trend, I was speaking to the Merlin as a sort of disembodied Ascended Master/consciousness frequency. That night, I woke from that dream at 3:15 AM or so, and proceeded to write down the following prayer.

Charge of the Sun God
(written to complement and match the Charge of the Star Goddess, Z Budapest version found in the Holy Book of Women's Mysteries)

Hear ye the words of the Sun God.
the rays of whose fingers caress the Earth
whose body carries the seed of life:

I am the strength of the mountain
and the laughing, rushing river,
and the path of the sacred arrow,
and the hunger of the wild hunt.

Call unto your soul, "Arise!" and come unto me,
for I am the soul of survival
that gives courage to the hearts of all.

From me, your journey forth into the Mysteries,
and unto me,
you bear your defeats and victories.

Before my shrine of stone and tree,
let your divine innermost self be enfolded in the wisdom of the ancients.

Let my worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold:
All acts of love and pleasure are my rituals!

Therefore let there be
Beauty and strength,
power and compassion,
honor and pride,
mirth and reverence
among you.

And those of you who seek to know me, know this:
that your seeking and yearning shall avail you not unless you know your divine power.
For is that what you seek you find not in this world,
then you must strive to create it.

For behold, I have been with you from the beginning,
and I am that which is ever-unfolding
in the endless dance of life, death and rebirth.

-Yeshe Rabbit, copyright 2007

The Brotherhood of the Moon and Green Men still use this Charge, and I am glad they like it. Most of our CAYA Priestesses have it memorized as well, and at Beltane each year we do them together, interspersing different lines and collecting around the shared lines, like the ever-popular "love and pleasure" line. Ever notice how even if someone does not know the rest of the Charge, they know that line? ;) Of course. These things make life sweet!

I am also a fan of Jason Mankey's Charge of the God over at Deep Pagan Thoughts, and Gatekeeper Jey's Charge of the Dark God, which I am hoping he will post and share soon. I wrote a companion Charge of the Dark Goddess as well, at our recent CAYA Clergy retreat.

An important message from the Amazon Priestess Tribe

An important message from the Amazon Priestess Tribe to the Pagan Community regarding Gender, Ritual Inclusiveness, and the Dianic Tradition

For immediate release
March 8, 2012
Bay Area, California

I. Statement of Tribal Evolution
II. Clarity around the use of the terms "Dianic" and "Pan-Dianic"
III. The Amazons are changing our name

I. Statement of Tribal Evolution:

With gratitude for a wonderful learning experience and warm memories of sisterhood over the past 5 years, Yeshe Rabbit and the Amazon Priestess Tribe announce that as of today, March 8, International Women's Day 2012, we are retiring from the Z Budapest lineage of Dianic Wicca in favor of forming an independent lineage that reflects our particular approaches and views regarding Goddess-centered practice.

We offer our reverent thanks for the wit, writings, and wisdom Z Budapest has offered us and the world, while acknowledging that we nonetheless find ourselves at thealogical and ethical crossroads with some core practices of her lineage.

Namely, we cannot support a policy of universal exclusion based upon gender at our Goddess-centered rites, nor can we condone disregard or insensitivity in communications regarding the topic of gender inclusion and Goddess-centered practice. We feel it inappropriate to remain members of a lineage where our views and practices diverge significantly from those of the primary lineage holder.

We support thoughtfulness and personal responsibility in each individual's selection of the best possible path for spiritual growth and evolution. No one can actually change another's mind, nor should anyone be forced to accept changes they cannot abide. Thus, we joyfully bow in gratitude as we depart this lineage of Dianic Wicca, and embrace our own change as the next natural step in our evolution as High Priestesses of the Goddess. We thank the pagan community for witnessing us in this transformation.

The Mysteries of the womb and menstrual life cycle are still the prevalent points of focus within our private group of 15 cis-gender, cissexual priestesses.* We have been working on these Mysteries for 5 years together. They are very powerful, very relevant to our individual and collective experiences, rooted in our own sovereign bodies. Thus, they are our preferred means for aligning with the Goddess within our sisterhood. We will continue to share this work with cis-gender women in personal and collective rites of passage, ceremonies for pregnant women and mothers, and the honoring of crones. Our blood is sacred, our blood is power, our blood is life.

We have also decided to create more readily-accessible public rituals that are inclusive of transgender women. We feel that, although none of us is qualified to speak to the personal experience of being transgender, by creating spaces that normalize inclusion, we are taking a step toward evolving this dialogue out of the mind, off the internet, and into actual bodies of actual women who are likely to find they have more in common than not in terms of the overall experience of being women in this world. Cis-women and trans-women share a common foe in patriarchy, and we feel it will be of significant benefit for all women to reach across various lines of division to bond, share, and strengthen our mission of its complete eradication. We grieve for the pain of our transgender sisters who have been harmed in response to their own declarations of sovereignty. We honor your strength and self-determination. Your blood is sacred, your blood is power, your blood is life.

Finally, we have decided that, at appropriate times, we will also offer rituals that are Goddess-centered and open to all. Patriarchy wounds and damages men as well as women. Denial of the Sacred Feminine is a shared concern for all life on Earth. We are seeking to create a paradigm of honoring life on this planet, where all bodies are treated gently and with respect. We believe that in order to achieve this reality, we need all members of society to participate in the vision of a world healed toward the feminine in all Her variation.

People tend to fear what they do not understand. Much of the hate directed at women, both cis-and trans-, is the result of ignorance and a subsequent impulse of fear-based domination, propagated not only by men but by other women as well. By opening our circles to our Goddess-loving brothers and sisters of all backgrounds, we seek to create opportunities for all who wish it to connect with the Divine Feminine as a means for generating increased gratitude and respect for life. We believe that connection with the Divine Feminine within each breast is crucial to ending patriarchy, honoring the body of the Earth, and all bodies, as beautiful and divine, and destabilizing the paradigm of "us/them." Do we really need a cataclysmic catalyzing event to show us that we are all cells of the same Earth body, each with our own role to play? We hope not. We believe that by embracing change on the individual and collective scale, we can create the world we want to live in and leave our children. We invite others who share this vision to connect with us in common purpose. Blood is sacred, blood is power, blood is life.


II. Clarity around the terms "Dianic" and "Pan-Dianic"

There are two well-known lineages of the Dianic Tradition in the US, those of Z Budapest and Morgan McFarland. There are countless sects and groups all over the world who are dedicated to the Goddess, but who are not members of either of these lineages, or who might not claim the term "Dianic" at all. Each Goddess lineage is unique in its approach to worship and membership, but most share a core thealogy of the Goddess as primary, complete unto Herself, and sovereign.

The Z Budapest Dianic lineage, also held prominently by Ruth Barrett and the Temple of Diana, currently offers membership to cis-gender, cissexual women only.

The Morgan McFarland lineage and many other Dianic and/or Goddess-centered lineages we have encountered in our travels and study have more inclusive standards for membership.

This difference in approach has led to some confusion and conflict between Dianic groups over the years, and it makes it difficult for the casual observer to know what exactly is meant by the term "Dianic." As of our most current research, Z Budapest, Ruth Barrett, and those in that lineage identify with the term "Dianic Wicca." Morgan McFarland and those in that lineage refer to themselves as "Old Dianic." These designations are helpful, but not universally known or clear.

To create what we hope to be greater clarity in terminology, we have decided, along with our sister Lady Rosmarinus Stehlik, and Devin Hunter's Living Temple of Diana (not to be confused with Ruth Barrett's Temple of Diana mentioned above) to henceforth refer to ourselves as Pan-Dianic, meaning that we specifically provide Goddess-centered rites and honor the Goddess as whole, sovereign, and complete unto Herself, and that we are open to sharing our vision and spiritual practices with people of all genders.

We see the vast ways in which people of all backgrounds and genders can find healing in the playfulness of the Great Maiden, the arms of the Great Mother, the wisdom of the Great Crone, and in the sovereignty of the Great Queen. By defining ourselves as Pan-Dianic, we hold the truth that the Goddess is embodied, exalted, and empowered in thousands of cultures, in a wide array of diverse bodies, and in countless different spiritual traditions, toward the highest possible good for all worlds.

As Pan-Dianics:

We honor everyone walking their own paths of knowing and serving the Goddess, including all beings of all genders.

We respect the sovereignty and autonomy of all individuals/groups to ritually honor the Goddess as whole and sovereign unto Herself according to their unique needs and preferences.

We support, for those who wish it, ritually gathering around specific experiences with appropriately- and respectfully-invited attendees rather than biological determinism as a matter of universal exclusion. For example, we believe it is every 11-year-old Maiden's right to determine who will be present at her First Moon ceremony. We equally support gatherings that are open to all self-identified women for exploration of the varieties of women's experiences. We equally support groups of gay men gathering to honor their own Goddess natures. We support the right of trans-women to create rituals specific to their experiences, and to share these with other trans-women and cis-women as they see fit. We support the idea of cis-gender, cissexual, heterosexual men gathering to explore the Goddess as daughter, friend, universal love, mother, queen, self. And so forth, into infinite beautiful variety.

We hold for clarity, compassion, and linguistic sensitivity in delineating intentional sacred space, and mindfulness toward how we communicate around the topics of privilege, healing, and spirituality. Our discourse shapes the universe. Words are breath, power, actualization. We hold our use of language as a significant magical responsibility.

We hold a commitment to elevation of all women's rights at the center of our vision. We believe that elevation of cis-women's and trans-women's rights to a position of honored equality will open humanity as a whole toward a more balanced and healthy approach to life, the planet, and consciousness.

We invite others who share our commitment to personal sovereignty and inclusive Goddess community to also adopt this terminology, if it feels correct to you. There are no initiations required to call yourself Pan-Dianic. If what you read here resonates with you, you will just know it to be your truth. Beyond that, your choice to study with any teacher, or join or initiate into any particular group is a private matter, up to you.

We thank all who join us in self-identifying as Pan-Dianic, for taking up the mantle of Goddess-centered practice, personal/group sovereignty, and self-determination alongside us.


III. The Amazons are changing our name

The word Amazon is beloved by many within the Z Budapest Dianic lineage as a powerful symbol of their spirituality and the fight for women's rights. As part of our respectful departure from this lineage, we relinquish the name "Amazon." As a Tribe, while we still hold powerful protection, equality, justice, and care for all women at the core of our mission, we also feel that using this name creates confusion about our place in the dialogue, linking us with those whose approach to Goddess worship is predicated upon gender exclusivity. We have seen many Dianics identifying with the term Amazon who do not speak for our Tribe. We feel that in order to move forward with greatest possible clarity, and as a signifier of our new Covenant as an independent, Pan-Dianic lineage, a name change is in order that reflects our collective identity and commitments.

We hereby bid the name Amazon farewell, with gratitude for all it has meant to us and taught us.

We are happy to announce that we will henceforth be known as the
Bloodroot Honey Priestess Tribe

We feel our new name encapsulates the blood rites that are sacred to our group's practices, the holy knowing that where there is blood in all beings, there is life, our gratitude for the sweetness of life, and the profound Ancestral reverence that characterizes our particular approach to honoring the Goddess and women. The name means much more to us as well, individually and collectively, but these are the most important reasons to enumerate here.

We thank our pagan sisters and brothers, as well as anyone else in the world who might be reading this declaration, for your witness to our growth and evolution, our efforts toward linguistic clarity and appropriate appellation, and our grateful love for the Goddess.

Each of us is a woman, a person, with thoughts, feelings, and our own stories of who we are and what we represent. You can learn more about us by clicking below, where some of us have shared our thoughts on this journey from a personal point of view.

Signed,

Yeshe Rabbit
High Priestess of Alchemy, Lineage Holder, dedicated to Oshun

Stella Iris RedRaven
High Priestess of Conscious Joy, dedicated to the Morrighan

Duat Ka Neit Kismet
High Priestess Who Walks Between the Worlds, dedicated to Kismet-Bast

Doyenne Rowan Nightshade
High Priestess of Esoterica, dedicated to Eris

La Strega Manea Trinacria
High Priestess of Wild Magic, dedicated to Diana

Mistress Ladybug
High Priestess of Colors, dedicated to Aphrodite

Raven of the Redwoods
High Priestess of Audacious Integrity, dedicated to Brighde

Lady Maia Mermaid
High Priestess of the Sacred Hearth, dedicated to Aphrodite

Chieftain Branwen
High Priestess of the Primal Heart, dedicated to the Morrighan

Mistress Zafira Stardust,
High Priestess of the Sacred Fire, dedicated to Hekate

Madame Hummingbird Rainbow
High Priestess of Sacred Dance, dedicated to Hekate

Q'desha Yansumi Diwata
High Priestess of Music, dedicated to Lilith

Kyria Skotas
High Priestess of the Threads of Secrets, dedicated to Hera

Wishbringer Molly Blue Dawn
High Priestess of Serendipity, dedicated to Sheila-na-Gig

Thora Ąžuolas
High Priestess of Stars and Storms, dedicated to Isis-Heqt

So mote it be.
Sealed with blood
Sealed with honey
Sealed with truth


* Please note: Cis-gender and cissexual are the more neutral terms for the greatly-debated phrase "women-born-women." While we do not feel that the terms "cis-" and "trans-" represent the poetic best that the language of the Goddess is capable of in describing the
masterpiece of each body, we are respectfully committed to using these terms until widely agreed-upon poetic and magical terminology evolves within the Pan-Dianic community.

My Heart is a Lotus of Radiance

My Heart is a Lotus of Radiance: Post-PantheaCon Reflections
From the Cosmick Ocean of a Dianic Priestess

Guest Blog at Way of the Rabbit By Rosmarinus Stehlik (Lady Ro)

By Waxing Moon and Radiant Starlight, I have consciously chosen, with Altruistic Intent, to share the secret labyrinth of myself with the Greater World as a Whole. This is an immeasurably challenging step to take as a sentient being accustomed to dancing within vast internal landscapes of perpetual dreaming and blissful movement with the Divine Multiverse as a Solitary Witch; however, a long trajectory of occult experiences and recent epiphanies - together with growing older through the spiral of Time - have lent themselves to sparking an unprecedented urgency within to serve Community in a less clandestine manner, to facilitate union with, and to invoke the co-creation of a Transpersonal Stream of Expression singing the Lullaby of the Radiant Future into Being.

I identify my Life as a Multifaceted Jewel - the Wholeness of which is comprised of infinitesimal aspects of Nature and Nurture - some part, Mystery. Past, Present and Future, together with Cycles of Karmic Incarnation, speak through me via the Entirety of the Eternal Cosmos: an Ever-Evolving Supreme Teacher and Mentor Nourishing and Guiding the Holistic Totality of my Soul. I am a Priestess of the Wyrding in this Dance. I acknowledge that nanosecond by nanosecond, Entire Universes, Concepts and Realities Rise and Subside within me. Issuing from the Thousand-Petaled Lotus of my Heart, I hear the Sacred Names of My Many Selves Whispering My Truth:

I Am Woman; Daughter; Lover; Magyar Romany; Boszorkany; Tunder; Siciliana Strega; Eclectic Witch; Priestess of the Great Goddess; Shamaness; Oneiromancer; Occultist; Artist of Movement, Sound and Vision; Minerval Initiate of the O.T.O; Kindred of the Earth and Sky; Moonchild; Heavenly Constellation; Fire Dancer; Dew of the Ocean; Healer; Dreamer; Teacher; Truth seeker & Seer; Oracle; Weaver; Creatrix; Spell caster; Singularity; Triplicity; Multifarious Being; the All and the Void - endless Epithets of Self-Identity issuing from what T. Thorn Coyle refers to as “The Deep Well of One’s Spiritual Path” which imbued my self-acceptance with the Power to Identify these aspects within - to Dream and to re-assemble the Galaxies of the Self in the Spirit of Wholeness and Truth: I call that Deep Well within me, Dianic Feminist Witchcraft.

I bring this massive Invocation of Self-Naming to the Table in order to share the ambiance in motion that informs My Cosmick Views. This Self-Naming has disclosed itself, anew, to express the Arenas in which My Service to the Cosmick Plan of the Multiverse has found Purpose in the Greater Scheme of Things. I am Dianic Priestess - ordained clergy of the Z Budapest Tradition. Simultaneously, I am Free Agent with Magickal Autonomy, with Vast Galaxies of Mystical Self Knowing - holding Pre-Existing Spiritual Wisdoms - that I Brought to the Table before being Gifted with this title to Serve Womankind in the Dianic Sphere.

Before delving into the article to come, I share the vibration of Personal Power and Spiritual Lineage that speak through me - granting me the strength to embrace the current, tumultuous evolution of Gender Politics within Goddess Spirituality with presence, as experienced over the course of the last two Pantheacon Events I have attended, and to welcome its unfolding as a Gift of further Self-Actualization.

I am Driven by the Spirit of Co-Creation with my Occult Peers to Give Birth to the Radiant New Aeon. In this process, I witness My Life as a Living Work of Art in Perpetual Motion. No one person is One-Dimensional. Our Mystery Re-weaves Itself for Transpersonal Reasons when surrendering to the Cosmick Plan beyond one’s own singular Life. This Vibration informs my Quest in this Lifetime.

From the darkest manifestation of Patriarchal legacy, I came to the Gates of Dianic Witchcraft to Consolidate the Deepest Aspects of my Selfhood. It was the Temple of Women’s Sovereignty that pulled me out of a morbid place, dusted me off, and cast the Circle of Sacred Space around me in which Compassionate Love and Support spoke in gentle waves of understanding; this safe space is where my Unique Mysteries and Personal Shamanism were granted the Holy Realm in which to unfold into States of Poignant Grace. Many moons later, this Sisterhood held Sacred Space as I recognized the High Priestess-within, She of My Own Destiny that I had been carrying within me from the beginning, and who chose to Blossom into those latent Powers that I had already possessed in this Nurturing Environment. This Inner Self-Actualization exploded with the vigor of a Cosmick Ocean, awaiting my permission to come rushing home to Shore.

Sacred Space initiated Deep Levels of Shadow Work within myself in which I took Full Accountability for my Life as a Witch, a Woman and a Priestess; for manifesting my Cosmick Purpose, for expressing my Visceral Truth, and for relinquishing the Illusory Expectations that I held of others which contributed to my own suffering and to the collective suffering of Humankind, in turn. This Temple of Sacred Space enabled the Manifestation of the Body of the Great Goddess personified by this Sisterhood and provided the sphere in which I explored my Unique Wisdom on an Alchemical level by ensuring the recognition of the Great Goddess outside myself as witnessed in each other. Insights of Wisdom came through finding Relation in Sharing Stories with Kindred Women in this context; inspired us to Celebrate our Collective Diversity; to Name Our Universal Struggles; to Celebrate our Strengths; to Mutually Observe the Seasonal Tides of the Universe and Our Interconnection with Immanence as It Spoke Through Us; moved us to Collectively gaze through the Lens of Our Blood Mysteries; primed us to Trust the Whispers of Truth and the Mysterious Guidance that propelled us to Evolve; honed Our Empowerment; encouraged us to Witness and to facilitate each other’s Healing; brought Life Force to the Temple of Honoring Ritual Cycles and Intuitions of the Deeper Mysteries as a Sisterhood, and invoked the Reverence within us to cherish the Occult Temple-within and without that Articulated Our Rites of Passage as a Womankind.

The Silence and Introspection enabled by and Sanctity cultivated within Safe space is immeasurable and imperative in the Journey of Self Determination for any Group enduring the Realms of Patriarchy in Its own way. Feminist Witchcraft granted me this Time-Space Continuum in which to Re-weave my Unique Vision with Clarity on my own terms as a Female Sentient Being, whilst holding Sacred Space for the Sanctity of that Process to do as it Will, for the good of All, and it Harm none.

Through the paradigm of Feminist Witchcraft, I learned to Respect my Righteous Rage as a catalytic force of action invoking Change. This Internal Fire became the alchemical vehicle of Self-Understanding - assisting my Will to celebrate the Beauty of my Womanhood, to be present with personal Losses and Victories, and which galvanized my craft to express my Bless-ed Truth as a Self-Empowered Soul of Auspiciousness. It put words to the language that already resided within me in order to name my pain; and as such, assisted the detoxification of the Greater Body Mind and Spirit of Womankind as a Whole as the illusions binding women to places of victimization melted into the Cosmick Aether - Transmuted via my dedication to, and discipline within the personal Spiritual work I had engaged. This Transmutation grants the Whole of Womankind Collective Life Vitality and inspires commitment to cultivate Trust within the Greater Destiny of Womankind beyond one’s self.

I have evolved light years since those Dark Nights of the Soul; since I first came to the Gates of Feminist Witchcraft. It is this Truth that fosters my Reverence for the foundation of Self-Determination and Women’s Culture enabled by the Current of Dianic Witchcraft.

After ascending through the Seven Gates of My Past Personal Tribulations, I have found Arenas of Women’s Sovereignty to be the Transformational, Healing Salve of Sanity that informed my process. For this Truth, I am indebted to Its Blessedness. The Path of Dianic Witchcraft inspires my devotion to uphold the Sanctity of Women’s Sovereignty for others, in kind and to move beyond myself in the Spirit of Service in order to serve the Cosmick Self-Determination of Womanhood on a Transpersonal Level. This Internal Evolution has been informed by Transpersonal Concerns in Relation to Women’s Self Determination and has widened my Embrace in the Quest to Nurture the Heart of the Essence of Liberation for ALL Sentient Beings.

This brings me to Personal Reflections upon the Collective Sacred Work Facing Us as A Magickal Family of the Cosmos - Walking toward Our Co-Created Future - Following the Lessons Learned via Pantheacon 2011 and 2012.

There are many that have chosen to address various Realities, Individuals and circumstances regarding this heated gender debate that has polarized many Factions of the Greater Pagan Community. These created divisions involve many leaders, teachers, practitioners, individuals and Communities as a whole within the Greater Pagan Realm. Many are being called to task to answer for their part, their views, and their commitments with regards to the Semantics of the matter at hand. Many are being called to disclose their stance with clarity within this raging firestorm that grips our current times. Many are being asked to engage Deep Soul Searching in the Quest to Cultivate more Compassionate approaches to the core issues of the Gender Debate. Many, such as myself, have risen to embrace the Work of this New Paradigm Shift, with All of Its Challenges and nuances, in the Spirit of Mindfulness and with the Intent of invoking the Aspects necessary for the cultivation of Enlightenment required to move forward in this debate. Many have written eloquent musings to face these Greater Transformations of Consciousness; others, more scathing ones disclosing the immediacy, intimacy, and intensity of the energies driving this debate of Gender Self-Determination, and raising questions as to what Womanhood ultimately means within the Greater Scheme of Things vis-à-vis Our understanding of Womankind as an Ever-Evolving Phenomenon bearing impact upon the Female Gender at its Core.

Without going into great detail, that others have eloquently engaged, regarding the play-by-play events that transpired at this year’s Pantheacon event (see links below for the trajectory of this unfolding phenomenon), I have found myself arriving at a place that has raised more Questions than Answers within me, and these questions are sound.

Upon Reflection, the main item of contemplation that stood out for me, following the Pantheacon Experience of the Women’s Self Blessing Ritual, was the need to ensure Safe Space for individuals more diligently on a Multi-Dimensional level that does not compromise the Security, Sanctity, and Importance of that Space for Individuals in Need. There was much Drama that unfolded - many political agendas at play, that I feel caused Great Harm to innocent bystanders Seeking Solace in their Spiritual Work, caught in the Cross-fire of this Gross Drama. This disturbed me on a Deep Level insofar as egos and agendas undermined the Greater Shamanism yearning to consummate Its Desires. Many Sacred and Valid Concerns were played out; however, the Spiritual Martial Arts of Our Community’s Quest shall be to hone the Skills and Eloquence required to address these issues in a more Timely and Respectful Way in order to Protect the Spirit Life of the Innocent. This will require the Stamina of Great Devotion that shall find a Way to Address Every Facet of this Unfolding Reality in the Spirit of Co-Creation. I offer a fraction of these questions here for the Entirety of Our Beings to contemplate with this one inquiry:

How can the Collective and Singular “WE” Serve Our Greater Cosmick Community as Neophytes Standing upon the Precipice of a Great Paradigm Shift of Co-Creation Welcoming a Magickal Future into Our Lives in the Spirit of Love and Altruism?

This is the Sacred Intent at the Heart of My Service, moving Forward.

DECLARATION of PERSONAL and TRANSPERSONAL Truths in the QUEST of EXPRESSING my ALLY-SHIP to Co-Creation Weaving the RADIANT New AEON into BEING of Our COLLECTIVE FUTURE:
I choose to declare Allegiance with Trans/Personal Truths to Ensure Clarity of Intent:

- I Recognize Myself as A Conduit of Cosmick Consciousness Facilitating the Unfolding of the Greater Cosmick Plan of the Sacred Multiverse Through All Time and Space.

- I am Committed to the Ultimate Goal of Women’s Liberation in all of Its Multifarious Incarnations, known, and yet to be known, within the Greater Time-Space Continuum.

- I am committed to embracing the Natural Evolution Within and Outside Myself that holds me as an Ally to this Cosmick Purpose, and requires of me to expand Personal Experience, Spiritual Understandings, Continuing Education, and Mindful Consciousness in order to contribute to the Achievement of Its Manifestation on a Global and Cosmick Level within the Ever-Evolving NOW, Moving Forward.

- I am committed to the Personal Truth that the Right of Womankind to declare the perimeters of Its Holy Temple of Women’s Sovereignty is a Sacred Rite, and that this Truth is to be Revered rather than Ridiculed, in order to Welcome Deeper Dialogue of this Phenomenon Outside itself. It is this Spirit of Mindfulness that shall engage the Mystery of its Healing Model being shared with others, in the Ever-Evolving Now, in order to Heal the Hurts of Patriarchy beyond itself. This Distribution of Wisdom bears its own process of Intelligence, its own Time and Season of Unfolding, which must be honored within the Greater Context of the Pagan Community seeking the fruits of its Grace.

- I am committed to the Personal Truth that in this Knowing, Womankind shall open up to the dialogues of Female Self-Determination that are yet to be understood as the Planet commits Itself to invoking a New Egalitarian Paradigm born of the Spirit of This Co-Creation and Mindfulness.

- I am committed to the Personal Truth that I am an Ally of the Self-Determination of ALL Sentient Beings on Earth Suffering the Machinations of Patriarchy. Transgender Women are a Part of that Paradigm Shift as I declare personal commitment to the Inclusive Nature of My Love regarding the Unfolding Consciousness of Liberation in Our Co-Created Future .

-I devote my work to maintaining the measures that must be utilized in facilitating guidance and/or the holding of Sacred Space required for those that suffer with the same Spirit of Commitment that drives my Protection of Women’s Sovereignty in the Lives of *Cisgender Women (moving forward I reserve the right to utilize the term “res-gender” Women in place of the prefix “cis” as a political symbol of Self-Empowerment inspired by the writing of Max Dashu: see http://www.sourcememory.net/veleda/?p=486&fb_source=message. (Disclaimer: let it be clear that the resgender neologism is being utilized for the purpose of clarity in order to convey my perspective on the female gender of the species, which trumps the imposition of Patriarchal language and consciousness brought into my Vision of Womankind from Dichotomy-driven Realms. Max Dashu is in no way trying to formalize any universal terminology as descriptor of the Truths/Experiences of ALL Women. More on the Cisgender nomenclature, another time)).

-Within the Paradigm Shift of Liberation, I am further committed to the Personal Truth that Every Sentient Being surrendering to Enlightenment has a Personal Obligation and Responsibility to engage the Internal Work required to manifest contributions of Culture that shall Elevate the Earth’s Collective Vibration in the Future of this Vision of Enlightenment. There is Great Patience that shall have to be observed in this process. The Spirit of Egalitarianism, Mindful Dialogue and commitment to Mystical Service shall be the prelude to the Manifestation of said Future of Liberation. Furthermore, every being holds a personal responsibility to Participate in this Co-Creation, and must have the Greater Altruistic Purpose of Cosmick Unity as its Goal, moving beyond concepts of “Good and Evil”, which shall require the relinquishing of modalities that speak of expectation, aggression, ill-informed entitlement and egoism.

-I am committed to the Personal Truth that we are All Profound Leaders in our Own Right; and as such, bear Great responsibility to becoming an agent of Gentle Loving Kindness in Our Thoughts, Words, and Deeds as these have an impact upon the Greater Group Mind of Our Evolution towards Our Collective Higher Selves. We also have a responsibility to each other to embrace the openness that is required for one to be Teacher, Student, and Ally of the New paradigm of Cosmick Consciousness.

-I am committed to the Transpersonal Truth that Every Sentient Being on Earth is a Cosmick Creature in Which the Immortal Fires of the Entire Universe burn; and as such, we have a deep responsibility to cherish the Sacredness in One Another, and to pay Reverence to one another for that Shared Reality. This Truth moves beyond Human existence to encapsulate every aspect of the Cosmos, from stardust to every microorganism on Earth, and everything in between.

-I am committed to the Personal Truth that Every Sentient Being on Earth has the Right to Invoke the Freedom to express their True Will, as they wish to Express it, for the Good of All, and It Harm None. No One Being, Organization, Group, or Entity has the Right to Stifle the Unfolding of the Pure Nature of Another’s Expression of This Truth via Force, Coercion, or a number of Infinitesimally subtle methods of Patriarchally-Modeled Domination that tends to be employed under such circumstances. With this in mind, it shall be imperative that we move forward with the willingness to cultivate consensuality and maturity in our process of Egalitarian dialogue vis-à-vis subjects of a Challenging Nature.

-I am Committed to the Personal Truth that the ill-informed conduct of another Sentient being, group of beings, leaders, individuals, et al, does not grant any individual license or the right to espouse behaviors that smack of Cruelty, Judgment, Self-Righteousness, Hatefulness, Hurtfulness, Slander, Hostility, Misrepresentation, Assumption or any of a number of other forms of intentional, or unintentional manifestations of Ignorance in Thought Word and Deed in the face of this perceived trespass. On the other hand, we ALL bear a great responsibility in facilitating Collective Healing and Introspection in relation to these Realities in the Spirit of Mindful Compassion as we move toward Our Higher Selves, Individually, and as a Whole.

-I am committed to the Personal Truth that misogyny, misandry, elitism, dichotomy thinking, and any of a number of prejudices wielded in the spirit of destruction, along with all of its collective machinations, hold no place in my personal paradigm.

- I am committed to the Personal Truth that We Honor Our Selves and Our Bless-ed Future when we pay Homage to Our Elders. I feel that we must employ the Collective Reverence that cherishes the Foundational leg-work that Elders have wrought in order to prime our Current times in advancing toward its next state of Cosmick Liberation.

- I am also committed to the Truth that we must deeply scrutinize the Blessings and Errors of these achievements, as a way of Honoring All of Humanity, with said introspection that we are willing to place upon our own conduct in kind. In the spirit of this, and in order to keep our intent pure, I honor the words of Pierre Telliard de Chardin who declared that, “We are not human beings having a Spiritual Experience, we are Spiritual Beings having a Human Experience.”

- I am committed to the Personal Truth that the Human Soul is a Vast and Complex Entity forged by infinitesimal perceptions, experiences, propensities, and possibilities; and as such, no one being can be merely defined by the affiliations they hold, which serves to maintain Illusory perceptions of said individual within the lives of those outside that being’s paradigm, entrenching individuals in delusional dichotomies of ego-driven self righteousness for the sake of maintaining false comfort zones. We have a Collective Responsibility as Spiritual Beings to push beyond the confines of our Wildest Imaginings in order to challenge our own precepts for the express Purpose of Invoking Collective Enlightenment for the Planet. Every Sentient Being is Sacred, a free agent of one’s own Destiny. Sweeping Statements that label and dismiss individuals, organizations, and entire groups of individuals or realties undermine our Deeper Purpose, and our Collective capacity to understand the Greater Nature/Aspects of the Human Spirit as a whole, where the Nature of Our Collective Work Together resides, as we Journey toward Enlightenment.

- I am committed to the Transpersonal Truth that Every Sentient Being must commit their Efforts, Merits and, Achievements to the attainment of Bodhichitta, for Individual Enlightenment, and for the Enlightenment of All Sentient Beings, from Beginningless Time, through Endless Space, and through the Innumerable Dimensions (Rede of CMAC).

Let it be known, before all else, that to support Women’s Sovereignty does not negate one’s commitment to facilitating the Liberation of what T. Thorn Coyle calls, “The Belov-ed Community”, that which includes All Sentient beings within and without the perceivable spectrum/planes of the five senses of Humanity that deserve mutual respect in this equation. Many more articles must be written to convey the vast scope of the complexities of Transformation currently under way in relation to Gender Politics within the Greater Pagan Community. For now, I have provided links to the articles below that go into deeper detail as to what has become the catalytic force of this Pagan Paradigm Shift in the making. Personally, this musing has become more about Contemplation; Asking Questions; Invoking Introspection regarding My Responsibilities of Service in this Cosmick Dance as an Ordained Priestess of Dianic Clergy.

I Embrace a Pan-Dianic Future with ALL of Its Cosmick Possibilities of Liberation to come.

The Gender Debate has engaged Reflection Upon the Roots of Our Belov-ed Community; it has asked us to scrutinize our Collective Part, our Roles, Our Energies, Our Integrities and Commitments that must be served; Our Responsibility to becoming an Ally of Co-Creation in this Future yet to be Born, and to reflect upon Our Work within the Greater Umbrella of Autonomous Paganism. I see myself as a Priestess, Teacher, and Devotee of the Cosmick Plan in this Auspicious Process.

In this work, I see the Transgender Community sitting upon the cusp of an Exhilarating Time for Great Self-Expression, requiring presence in the Creation of Sacred Vision to be shared as Divine Contribution to the Greater Voice of Goddess Spirituality. This Weaving is Imperative to the Process of Invoking Greater Understanding of the Transgender Paradigm, which does not require negating the Paradigm of Resgendered Womanly Experience in order to Elevate Itself. On the Contrary, mutually fostered understanding shall Elevate the ENTIRETY of WOMANKIND in the continued Unfolding of the Greater Mysteries of Goddess Spirituality through the Co-ally-ship Achieved in this Vision. Respectfully, Transgender Women will be called upon to engage the same level of commitment in deepening their understanding of and work within the arenas of Resgendered Women’s History - as endured in Relation to Patriarchal Arenas of Power Struggle - such as those found within the realms of Reproductive Rights, Child Care and Equal Pay for Equal Work, to name a few.

In order to move into a well-informed Vision of Our Collective Future of Co-Creation, a Great High Council will have to be Called in Waves that shall call forth the Voices that have Remained Silent in this Tumultuous dialogue; Namely, those of less Vocal Propensities: This will involve calling forth the insights of the extended Dianic Community and that of Transgender Women in a more Respectful and detailed manner. We will require insights from the spheres of Butch Dykes and Gender variant Beings; insights from Women of Color and Voices from Indigenous/Aboriginal/First Nations; Visions from the Realms of Women Living with Disabilities; Visions from Female Realities issuing from Cultures that do not subscribe to the Western Canon of Thought, to name but a few.

We stand upon a Great Precipice of Profound Transformation, and I Wish to Engage the Work of Soul Radiance as Priestessly Ally and Kindred Child of the New Aeon of Golden LOVEBLISSCONSCIOUSNESS to Come. There is Much Change on the Horizon, and we must dig Deeply into the Collective Core of the Labyrinth of Humanity to face these Transformations with Strength of Heart. I stand very poised for Deeper Wisdoms to Bring Mindful Clarity to my Cosmick Work. Many opinions differ with regards to the Semantics of this Work; many diverse views hold equal merit in my personal Paradigm~ and I feel we could ALL stand to be scrutinized equally in a probing manner of Blissful Truth above ALL else in our Ever-evolving Quest for Sublime Consciousness. I hold many TRUTHS in my Heart of Hearts that have equal value, and Surrender to Deeper Vibrations to Guide my Vision Quest in this Great Work. May we ALL Unfold in the Sacred Work and Service of the Higher Collective Self in order to facilitate the Divine Unfoldment of the Great Cosmick Plan!

*Bows with Reverence*

Lady RO ~ Soror CorvusRosmarinusUrania ~ R. Stehlik,
She Whose Heart is a Lotus of Radiance;
Whose Spirit is A Warrioress of Truth;
And Who Lives Life as Sacred Devotee of the Auspicious Unfolding of the Great Cosmick Multiverse.

Several notes in this essay refer to the following sources:

T. Thorn Coyle speech in Toronto, ON. Canada on April 13, 2009 at Wonderworks Bookstore. Lecture: Kissing the Limitless.

Definition: “Cisgender”. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisgender

Aleister Crowley. The Book of the Law. Thelemic Rede: “Do What thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Love is the law, love under will.” http://www.sacred-texts.com/oto/engccxx.htm

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/p/pierre_teilhard_de_chardi.html

Senpai Brands. “Enlightenment Meditation” engaged in my Nei Chi Martial Arts Class. ENZAN Dojo- affiliate of CMAC: http://www.cmac1.com/index_files/Page386.htm

T. Thorn Coyle: The Concept of “The Belov-ed Community”. http://www.thorncoyle.com/2012/02/holding-beloved-community/


Select List of External Links of Importance:
*Yeshe Rabbit Matthews. Way of the Rabbit. PCon 2011 and the Rite of Lillith: the Rest of the Story

*Jason Pitzl-Waters. The Wild Hunt. PantheaCon: Unity, Diversity, Controversy

*T. Thorn Coyle. T. Thorn Coyle: Know Thyself. Holding Beloved Community

*T.Thorn Coyle. T.Thorn Coyle:Know Thyself. Holding Beloved Community- Part 2

*T.Thorn Coyle. T.Thorn Coyle: Know Thyself. Holding Beloved Community- Part 3

*Max Dashu. Veleda. Three “cis-gender” crones, One “muttering”

*Gus DiZerega. Beliefnet: A Pagan’s Blog- An Exploration of Spirituality, Culture and Current Events. PantheaCon 2012: Politics and the Controversy of Women’s Rituals

*Pagan Newswire Collective. PantheaCon 2012; Unity in Diversity and Recap

Select List of Suggested Reading:
Chesler, Phyllis. Woman’s Inhumanity to Woman. New York, NY, U.S.A. A Plume Book. 2003.

Gandhi, Mahatma. Gandhi, An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth. Boston, US-MA. Beacon Press. 1993.

Gandhi, Mahatma. Mohan-Mala: A Gandhian Rosary. Amedabad, India. Navajivan Publishing House. 2000.

Hopkins, Jeffrey, editor. Mi-Pam-Gya-Tso, Fundamental Mind: The Myingma View of the great Completeness. Ithica, New York. Snow Lion Publications. 2006.

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Author Bio:
Rosmarinus Stehlik is a Cosmick Creatrix in the purest sense~ engaging diversity within the Artistic Process in order to Unfold into the Deeper Mysteries of the Human Soul. She is Dianic Priestess, Witch, and Visual Artist utilizing many dialects of Creative expression which include, the Fine Arts of Sculpture, Drawing, Painting, Mask Making, Contemporary Dance, Sound/CHANT/Audio/Video, Prophecy, Ritual, MAGICK, Working Omens and Portents and Dreamtime Visions in order to engage Pure Surrender to the Divine. Her Artistic Voice is Imbued with the Shamanic Current of the Occult and Witchcraft~ forming the Foundation of Her Spiritual Truth. She comes from Eclectic Solitary Roots~ A woman of Magyar Romany & Siciliana Strega Heritage ~ A Child of the MOON & the STARS.

Viewing the entirety of Life as a Living Ceremony of Art, Rosmarinus Stehlik, better known as Lady Ro among her Lunar Kindred, is the Drive behind WYRDMAGICK.COM***TM. She has received Dianic Priestess Clergy Ordination in the Z Budapest Tradition, and holds a Vast Capacity for Embracing The Sacredness and Diversity inherent in the Multifarious Voice of the Pagan Paradigm. Pagan Unity and Women’s Sovereignty is of Primary Importance in her Transpersonal View with Gentle Loving Kindness at its Deepest Heart. Her Spiritual Paradigm is COSMICK Feminism with LOVEBLISSCONSCIOUSNESS and Mindfulness as Its CORE Ethos. Lady Ro is a Graduate of McMaster University in Canada holding two Honours B.A Degrees in Fine Arts and Art History, respectively; with a minor degree in Religious Studies specializing in Cross-Cultural Spirituality and Feminist Witchcraft.

How to even begin to talk about it?

Many people reading this already know me a bit, but many more do not. I can't possibly explain my whole self in a blog post, or even a whole blog. And, actually, I am not an unchanging, static "self," but I play one on this reality show called Life As a Human Being.

I am an evolving, dynamic, and ever-changing co-creatrix of this multi-dimensional plane we call existence. I am surfing the tides of creation and destruction as best I can, just like you. When it comes to my spiritual path(s), I have studied many and I admire the architecture in all of them. But I honestly can't claim to be a fully-devoted member of any single religion, nor have I ever been. The structures of religion and spiritual Tradition fascinate and enlighten me continuously with insights into the nature of the deals we make with ourselves in order to explore truths far more vast than our minds are usually capable of handling.

Here are some of the things that inspire my journey. Here are some of the deals I have made with myself.

I believe in this:

Then I had a vision of a red woman, naked, lacking even the covering of bone ornaments, who thrust her bhaga against my mouth, and I drank deeply from her copious flow of blood. My entire being was filled with health and well-being, I felt as strong as a snow-lion, and I realized profound absorption to be the inexpressible truth.

-Yeshe Tsogal's vision of the eternal tantra and the succor of feminine life force, while on retreat in a cave, 8th CE

I believe in this:

Our personal attempts to live humanely in this world are never wasted. Choosing to cultivate love rather than anger just might be what it takes to save the planet from extinction.

What is it that allows our goodwill to expand and our prejudice and anger to decrease? This is a significant question. Traditionally it is said that the root of aggression and suffering is ignorance. But what is it that we are ignoring? Entrenched in the tunnel vision of our personal concerns, what we ignore is our kinship with others. One reason we train as warrior-bodhisattvas is to recognize our interconnectedness-to grow in understanding that when we harm another, we are harming ourselves. So we train in recognizing our uptightness. We train in seeing that others are not so different from ourselves. We train in opening our hearts and minds in increasingly difficult situations.

-Pema Chodron, The Places That Scare You, contemporary

I believe in this:

I, myself, am far from perfect. I constantly make mistakes. During the writing of this book, in fact, I sometimes made mistakes that seemed so bad I thought I probably should not even be writing it.

But I do my best to learn from my mistakes, to forgive myself, try to repair the damage, and go on. And I have been thinking about this subject for years now. I suspect you, too, have been thinking about it, or you wouldn't be reading this. So you can add my thinking to yours, and perhaps it will help...[everything] in your life is entirely up to you. And that is the root of our ethical system.

Personal responsibility.

-Robin Wood, When, Why, If?, 1996

I believe in this:

I bow to Oshun!
There is nowhere that it is not known that Oshun is as mighty as a King!
She dances, and takes the crown.
She dances without asking.
She arrives, and trouble is appeased.
She shakes her bracelets to come to the dance.
She dances in the depths of richness.
The water sounds like the bracelets of Oshun.
We call to Her, and She answers with wisdom.
She can heal what the doctor can't.
The Orisha who heals with cold water.
We can stay in the world without fear.

-Yoruba Traditional Homage to Oshun

I also believe in this:

Before the universe was born
there was something in the chaos of the heavens.
It stands alone and empty,
solitary and unchanging.
It is ever present and secure.
It may be regarded as the Mother of the universe.
Because I do not know its name,
I call it the Tao.
If forced to give a name,
I would call it 'Great',

Because it is Great means it is everywhere.
Being everywhere means it is eternal.
Being eternal means everything returns to it.

Tao is great.
Heaven is great.
Earth is great.
Humanity is great.
Within the universe, these are the four great things.

Humanity follows the earth.
Earth follows Heaven.
Heaven follows the Tao.
The Tao follows only itself.

-Lao-Tzu, Tao Te Ching

Just a peek at a small few of the things that inform my spiritual beliefs. I am not a leader because I am perfect. I am a leader because when everyone stands at the threshold, uncertain, I go ahead and enter to make sure it's safe. The entire world is my teacher. The entire universe is my home. Thanks for being on the journey with me. Blessed be.